Domain mode—A novel relaxation process in ferroelectric liquid crystals

Abstract New relaxation processes are observed in ferroelectric liquid crystals with considerable high spontaneous polarization. These processes are attributed to the formation of ferroelectric domains in FLC cells. The domains have different characteristic periodicities and relaxation times in the bulk of FLC cell and near the surfaces of the electrodes. Characteristic relaxation processes are found in the dielectric response at frequencies VDB and VDS corresponding to both cases. The behaviour of dielectric strengths δϵv;DB and δϵDS versus d.c. field, spontaneous polarization and pitch of the helix is investigated.