Interplay of Polar Order and Positional Order in Liquid Crystals–Observation of Re‐entrant Ferroelectric Nematic Phase
Abstract
Abstract We show that development of polar order may spontaneously destroy the lamellar structure of a liquid crystal. This results in an unusual sequence of phases, with the ferroelectric nematic phase appearing below a non‐polar smectic phase. The effect is related to unfavourable dipole interactions within the smectic layers and can be explained by Landau theory, in which the temperature‐dependent term is non‐monotonic as it is renormalised by spontaneous electric polarisation.
Article Details
Authors (9)
Grant J. Strachan
Faculty of Chemistry, University of Warsaw, ul. Pasteura 1, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
Shona J. Ramsay
School of Natural and Computing Sciences University of Aberdeen Aberdeen Great Britain
Marijus Juodka
School of Natural and Computing Sciences University of Aberdeen Aberdeen Great Britain
Damian Pociecha
Faculty of Chemistry, University of Warsaw, ul. Pasteura 1, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
Jadwiga Szydlowska
Faculty of Chemistry University of Warsaw Zwirki i Wigury 101 Warsaw 02‐089 Poland
John M.D. Storey
School of Natural and Computing Sciences University of Aberdeen Aberdeen Great Britain
Nataša Vaupotič
Rebecca Walker
Ewa Górecka
Faculty of Chemistry, University of Warsaw, ul. Pasteura 1, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland