LIMM investigations on cells with ferroelectric liquid crystalline materials

In cells with a ferroelectric liquid crystalline polymer the following effects have been observed: Distributions symmetrical to the middle of the cell with opposite orientation of the polarization vector at both surfaces of the LCP layer due to surface interaction have been found by cooling the sample from its isotropic phase to room temperature without application of a field. Switching between two states with opposite orientation of the polarization vector and uniform distribution over the cell was observed by short time application of an electric field above the glass transition. These states can be frozen in by subsequent cooling below the glass transition of the material and are long time stable at room temperature