Surface Dynamics of SSFLC as studied by Time-Resolved Spectroellipsometry

摘要

Reorientation dynamics of ferroelectric liquid crystals at the alignment film surface and in the hulk was investigated by time-resolved spectroellipsometry (TRSE) in a bookshelf type surface stabilized ferroelectric liquid crystal (SSFLC) cell. The surface dynamics of FLC molecules has been isolated by using total-reflection TRSE. Information about bulk reorientation dynamics is obtained from transmission TRSE experiments. Comparison of the results of two TRSE experiments indicates that surface and bulk molecules undergo different reorientational dynamics and the surface tilt angle changes depending on the alignment film material. The mode of director motion, its dependence on LC and orienting layer material, and the effect of applied electric field are discussed.