INFLUENCE OF FLEXOELECTRICITY ON THE SMECTIC-NEMATIC TRANSITION: CAN 'BEND GRAIN BOUNDARY PHASES' APPEAR?

摘要

The possible appearance of an intermediate state between the smectic and the nematic mesophase under the influence of an electric field, due to the flexoelec-tric effect, is dicussed in this paper. In analogy to the Abrikosov flux lattice in superconductors and twist grain boundary phases in liquid crystals, this state is characterized by a lattice of defects. Here, however, an electric field leading to a bend deformation of the director field is expected to support the formation of edge dislocations. A critical field strength below 10V/(mu)m may be sufficient to induce these dislocations.