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Simulations of the switching behavior in a ferroelectric liquid crystal were carried out with the model proposed by Handschy and Clark. There appear to be various types of switching processes for changing surface anchoring force. Results of simulations are compared with experimental observations, some of which seem to be well reproduced by the Handschy-Clark model.

Phase transitions and switching behavior in a fluorine containing ferroelectric liquid crystal, whose optical purity was controlled by mixing (R) and (S) enantiomorphs, were studied. Only for the pure (R) or (S) enantiomorphs, the phase transition from the SmA to the third state SmCA *, occurred directly. For the mixtures of (R) and (S) enantiomorphs, the phase transition occurred from the SmA to the SmCA * via the SmC*. In these mixtures, with decreasing temperature in SmC*, internal disclination loops changed from “boat type” to “stripe type”.