Here we present the optic and electro-optic characteristics of ferroelectric dye guest-host devices incorporating different dye and S,* host materials. We demonstrate fast response time ( < 100 p s ) single polarizer and zero-polarizer device configurations for high order parameter dichroic dyes and single polarizer fluorescent dye devices. The dynamic data include measurements of response times as functions of voltage, temperature and dye concentration, from which we conclude that the inclusion of certain dyes does not adversely affect the ferroelectric phase. The contrast ratios of these novel guest-host devices are also presented and are shown, as expected, to be functions of tilt angle (and therefore temperature). However, we demonstrate that the high tilt angle of 45' is not necessary for high contrast devices, and in fact for certain devices configurations 0 = 2 2 F is optimum. These results are discussed.

When an antiferroelectric liquid crystal (AFLC) cell is set between crossed polarizers for optical modulators or displays, it has low transmittance efficiency. This happens because AFLC materials have inherent tilt angles of typically 18 to 38 deg, not 45 deg. To improve the low transmittance efficiency, we propose a new optical configuration for antiferroelectric liquid crystal displays or devices, which also improves color dispersion. It consists of two crossed antiferroelectric liquid crystal cells. The characteristics of this dual-antiferroelectric liquid crystal display are simulated and experimented.

Experimentally, the aligned direction of AFLCs in electro-optic cells having both the substrates rubbed along the same direction, is skewed by a few degrees from their rubbing direction. We propose 'Torsional Rigid Body Model' to explain the reason, and interpret their skewing angle as the action of short pitch of AFLCs with an antipolar order where the direction of local polarization alternates between adjacent layers. Several cells have been fabricated for test purposes. Our experimental results indicate that when the azimuthal anchoring strength in the electro-optic cell is smaller than the maximum shear stress due to short pitch of AFLCs then their layer normal axes are skewed, and the skewing angles become smaller according to a decrease of the surface anchoring strength

This study is a parametric investigation of the application of a compact type of pre-swirl duct for a slender aft-body 158k crude oil carrier. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has created the Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI), which is an index related to carbon dioxide emissions, to enforce regulations on newly built ships; many solutions have been proposed, including an increase in propulsion efficiency. In the present study, a new type of energy-saving device (pre-swirl duct), the so-called ring stator, is proposed for 158k crude oil carriers, the hull form of which has been developed as a slender after-body full form to reduce the resistance by delaying separation. A conventional pre-swirl duct is no longer effective at the slender aft-body hull forms because of the small radial flow to the propeller. A parametric study was conducted through Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis using the commercial program Star-CCM+, and an improvement of approximately 3% in the propulsion efficiency was achieved in the present study. The efficiency gain was validated through a comparison with the experimental results. The developed ring stator may become applicable to container ships through further parametric studies in the near future.

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