Electro-optic characteristics of de Vries tilted smectic liquid crystals:: Analog behavior in the smectic A* and smectic C* phases

Chiral smectic A liquid crystal materials of the de Vries type (with molecules tilted relative to the layer normal) exhibit analog field-induced (electroclinic) optic axis rotation accompanied by an increase in birefringence. We identify two such de Vries smectic A(*) materials and use them to develop and test models for these characteristic electro-optic effects. These materials also exhibit colossal analog field-induced optic axis rotation in the lower temperature smectic C-* phase, a consequence of polarization charge stabilization, and of polarization screening of the applied field in the liquid crystal. (C) 2002 American Institute of Physics.