Abstract
The aim of this work was to investigate some of the fundamental physical properties of surface stabilised ferroelectric liquid crystal devices (SSFLCDs) using optical, electrical and x-ray diffraction techniques. The measured physical parameters are then related to the performance of display devices. Refractometry measurements on homeotropically aligned FLC samples are used to accurately determine the smectic cone angle and information is also gained on FLC biaxial order. Propagation of optically excited guided modes along liquid crystalline layers is then used to obtain detailed director configuration information. Wavelength dependent extinction angle spectroscopy is also used to extract smectic C director profiles, albeit with a slightly lower accuracy than the guided mode method. A triangular director profile model is found to describe the wavelength dependent extinction angle properties of achiral samples, and examination of the cell spacing dependence of the director profile enables a ratio of bulk elasticity to surface anchoring energy to be determined. Information is obtained on the behaviour of smectic C materials under high frequency electric fields using a continuum director profile model, providing a novel measurement of bend and splay elastic constants. Additionally an extension of the wavelength dependent extinction angle technique allows half splayed states to be
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Citation Formats
Dunn, P E.
Physical properties of smectic C liquid crystal cells.
United Kingdom: N. p.,
1998.
Web.
Dunn, P E.
Physical properties of smectic C liquid crystal cells.
United Kingdom.
Dunn, P E.
1998.
"Physical properties of smectic C liquid crystal cells."
United Kingdom.
@misc{etde_20227376,
title = {Physical properties of smectic C liquid crystal cells}
author = {Dunn, P E}
abstractNote = {The aim of this work was to investigate some of the fundamental physical properties of surface stabilised ferroelectric liquid crystal devices (SSFLCDs) using optical, electrical and x-ray diffraction techniques. The measured physical parameters are then related to the performance of display devices. Refractometry measurements on homeotropically aligned FLC samples are used to accurately determine the smectic cone angle and information is also gained on FLC biaxial order. Propagation of optically excited guided modes along liquid crystalline layers is then used to obtain detailed director configuration information. Wavelength dependent extinction angle spectroscopy is also used to extract smectic C director profiles, albeit with a slightly lower accuracy than the guided mode method. A triangular director profile model is found to describe the wavelength dependent extinction angle properties of achiral samples, and examination of the cell spacing dependence of the director profile enables a ratio of bulk elasticity to surface anchoring energy to be determined. Information is obtained on the behaviour of smectic C materials under high frequency electric fields using a continuum director profile model, providing a novel measurement of bend and splay elastic constants. Additionally an extension of the wavelength dependent extinction angle technique allows half splayed states to be characterised. A variety of simple electro-optic techniques are used to characterise several key material parameters. Polarisation reversal current is used to measure both the spontaneous polarisation and an effective FLC switching viscosity. Monochromatic extinction angle measurements under applied d.c. fields are used to determine the cone and layer tilt angles, whilst a comparison of d.c. and a.c. extinction angle characteristics provides an estimate of the dielectric biaxiality. An automated measurement technique is used to determine FLC response time characteristics, which are described by a dynamic continuum theory switching model. In addition to optical techniques, x-ray diffraction is used to probe directly the smectic layer structure of several materials aligned in the surface stabilised chevron geometry. The layer structures adopted with anti-parallel alignment are also examined as a function of surface pretilt. Uniformly tilted layer structures are found to occur in test cells subjected to mechanical damage, and high electric fields are shown to produce quasi-bookshelf layer structures. All measurements are brought together in a complete description of an FLCD. Various device properties, such as viewing angle, are calculated and found to compare well with experimental measurements. The model of the FLCD system is then used to predict how device performance could be improved. Finally conclusions are drawn from the work presented and future work is suggested. (author)}
place = {United Kingdom}
year = {1998}
month = {Jul}
}
title = {Physical properties of smectic C liquid crystal cells}
author = {Dunn, P E}
abstractNote = {The aim of this work was to investigate some of the fundamental physical properties of surface stabilised ferroelectric liquid crystal devices (SSFLCDs) using optical, electrical and x-ray diffraction techniques. The measured physical parameters are then related to the performance of display devices. Refractometry measurements on homeotropically aligned FLC samples are used to accurately determine the smectic cone angle and information is also gained on FLC biaxial order. Propagation of optically excited guided modes along liquid crystalline layers is then used to obtain detailed director configuration information. Wavelength dependent extinction angle spectroscopy is also used to extract smectic C director profiles, albeit with a slightly lower accuracy than the guided mode method. A triangular director profile model is found to describe the wavelength dependent extinction angle properties of achiral samples, and examination of the cell spacing dependence of the director profile enables a ratio of bulk elasticity to surface anchoring energy to be determined. Information is obtained on the behaviour of smectic C materials under high frequency electric fields using a continuum director profile model, providing a novel measurement of bend and splay elastic constants. Additionally an extension of the wavelength dependent extinction angle technique allows half splayed states to be characterised. A variety of simple electro-optic techniques are used to characterise several key material parameters. Polarisation reversal current is used to measure both the spontaneous polarisation and an effective FLC switching viscosity. Monochromatic extinction angle measurements under applied d.c. fields are used to determine the cone and layer tilt angles, whilst a comparison of d.c. and a.c. extinction angle characteristics provides an estimate of the dielectric biaxiality. An automated measurement technique is used to determine FLC response time characteristics, which are described by a dynamic continuum theory switching model. In addition to optical techniques, x-ray diffraction is used to probe directly the smectic layer structure of several materials aligned in the surface stabilised chevron geometry. The layer structures adopted with anti-parallel alignment are also examined as a function of surface pretilt. Uniformly tilted layer structures are found to occur in test cells subjected to mechanical damage, and high electric fields are shown to produce quasi-bookshelf layer structures. All measurements are brought together in a complete description of an FLCD. Various device properties, such as viewing angle, are calculated and found to compare well with experimental measurements. The model of the FLCD system is then used to predict how device performance could be improved. Finally conclusions are drawn from the work presented and future work is suggested. (author)}
place = {United Kingdom}
year = {1998}
month = {Jul}
}