Dielectric Characterisation of an Orthoconic Antiferroelectric Liquid Crystal Mixture

Dielectric properties of the orthoconic smectic liquid crystalline mixture W-129, which presents both antiferroelectric and ferroelectric smectic C phases, have been studied in the frequency range from 10 mHz to 100 kHz in planar aligned cells. Some important relaxation modes were detected in SmCa* and SmC* phases. Dielectric increments, distribution parameters and relaxation frequencies of these modes have been evaluated at different temperatures. From the study of dielectric spectra a great variety of relaxation responses emerges that could indicate the presence of different SmCa* subphases.