Field induced domains in antiferroelectric liquid crystals

Domain structures at held induced phase transitions of antiferroelectric liquid crystals were investigated by dielectric, electrooptic and light deflection experiments under electric bias fields. Characteristic light deflection phenomena indicating the coexistence of different refractive index domains were observed in antiferroelectric, ferroelectric and ferrielectric phases. Above all, in the chiral smectic C-beta* phase (SmCbeta*) being considered ferroelectric, the light deflections appeared at zero field after removing the bias and also in two field ranges at which the dielectric constant and the apparent molecular tilt angle showed step-wise changes. Possible models for the coexisting domains at these induced phase transitions were discussed.