Director orientation in chevron surface-stabilized ferroelectric liquid crystal cells. Verification of orientational binding at the chevron interface using visible polarized light transmission spectroscopy

Abstract We present results of theoretical modelling and experimental study of director distributions and the associated optical properties of chevron surface stabilized ferroelectric liquid crystal (SSFLC) cells. Chevron cells are modelled as being two stacked FLC slabs, described by distinct orientation distributions of the director [ncirc]-polarization P([ncirc] – P) couple. In each slab the [ncirc] – P distribution is governed by bulk Frank elastic and electric field-induced torques and by surface torques at the FLC-solid interface and at the chevron interface, where the two distributions are coupled. The optical properties of such structures are calculated numerically and the results t…