A comparison of possible disclination mechanisms of switching in thin ferroelectric liquid crystal samples

Communication: Experimental proof of symmetry breaking in tilted smectics composed of molecules with axial chirality

“…The disclinations represent a boundary between surface molecules tilted either by +θ or −θ from the layer normal, difference of 2θ corresponding to rotation of c-director by π . 10 Occurrence of the twisted domains indicates the polar anchoring in domains with separation of both conformers. Application of dc or ac electric fields does not change the domain structure up to the intensity of about 4 × 10 7 Vm −1 , which corresponds to 500 V applied on the sample.…”

“…Domains with the opposite sense of the twist would be separated by a disclination line. 4,10 The twist of the structure B shown in Fig. 4 between upper and lower surfaces is described by solution ϕ = π/2 − π x/ h with the c + -director.…”