Dielectric response in the smectic A and smectic C* phases of a ferroelectric liquid crystal, 12CN5(R*)

This paper reports the results of the dielectric relaxation studies performed in the Smectic A (SmA) and Smectic C* (SmC*) phases of the ferroelectric liquid crystal, 12CN5(R*) in the frequency range 5 Hz to 13 MHz. Planar orientation used throughout the study was achieved by rubbed polyamide coating on, the surfaces of the dielectric cell. Transition temperatures determined from the derivative of the dielectric permittivity agrees with that obtained using thermal polarizing microscopy. The dielectric spectrum in the SmA phase shows single relaxation, whereas the SmC* phase has two relaxations, viz., the low frequency Goldstone made and the high frequency soft, mode. Special attention was paid to the study of the low frequency Goldstone mode relaxation. From the Cole-Cole plots, the temperature dependence of dielectric strength (Deltaepsilon), the relaxation frequency (f(R)) and the distribution parameter (alpha) relevant to the Goldstone mode have been estimated. The relaxation frequency follows the Arrhenius relation in the asymptotic regions far from the transition. Results of the bias-dependent dielectric measurements of the Goldstone mode relaxation have also been presented.