Charge controlled, fixed optic axis analog ("v-shaped") switching of a bent-core ferroelectric liquid crystal

Recently discovered anticlinic ferroelectric liquid crystals (FLCs) offer a mode of fast fixed-optic-axis electro-optic modulation useful for a variety of applications. In addition, the high spontaneous polarization of a member of this class of FLCs (similar to500-600 nC/cm(2)) suggests that it is a good candidate for electrostatically controlled thresholdless analog switching, whereas conventional SmC* FLCs have a binary response. Using a simple charge control drive circuit, we have found that this FLC is in fact capable of hysteresis-free analog switching. An optical model suggests that this class of FLCs might be engineered to have a much larger electro-optic effect than seen in this example. (C) 2004 American Institute of Physics.