The computation of director profiles and energy parameters in surface-stabilized ferroelectric liquid crystal structures requires the evaluation of many terms accounting for different contributions to the general solution. This evaluation is usually performed using several simplifications and assumptions adapted to the specific phenomenon under study. In this work, a comprehensive expression including all possible terms not avoiding a computable solution is presented. The effect of every term on the general expression is analyzed.

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Surface stabilized antiferroelectric liquid crystals are known to give multiplex-compatible greyscales by applying simple waveforms. Statistical variations of cell parameters are believed to be at the origin of this greyscale. In this work, an antiferroelectric model is applied to the study of cell statistical variations, aiming to identify the parameters whose variations may account for the experimental results obtained with these cells. It has been found that moderately small parameter variations, well within manufacturing tolerances, may lead to greyscales whose voltage range and shape are similar to those observed experimentally.

The statistical origin of grayscales showed by surface-stabilized antiferroelectric liquid crystal cells has been tested. Long-term stable microdomains have been detected, thus supporting the statistical mechanism. However, the relaxation time required for these microdomains to stabilize at room temperature is fairly large for current materials under actual working conditions. Therefore, a combined time-modulation/relaxation mechanism is proposed for video-rate grayscales in AFLC displays.