Ferroelectric Nematic-Isotropic Liquid Critical End Point
Jadwiga Szydłowska, Paweł W. Majewski, Mojca Čepič, Nataša Vaupotič, Paulina Rybak, Corrie T. Imrie, Rebecca Walker, Ewan Cruickshank, John M. D. Storey, Damian Pociecha, Ewa Górecka
Abstract
A critical end point above which an isotropic phase continuously evolves into a polar (ferroelectric) nematic phase with an increasing electric field is found in a ferroelectric nematic liquid crystalline material. The critical end point is approximately 30 K above the zero-field transition temperature from the isotropic to nematic phase and at an electric field of the order of 10 V/μm. Such systems are interesting from the application point of view because a strong birefringence can be induced in a broad temperature range in an optically isotropic phase.
Topics & Concepts
Liquid crystalFerroelectricityCondensed matter physicsBirefringenceIsotropyMaterials scienceCritical point (mathematics)Electric fieldPhase (matter)PolarPhase transitionOpticsPhysicsDielectricOptoelectronicsGeometryQuantum mechanicsMathematicsLiquid Crystal Research AdvancementsMaterial Dynamics and PropertiesNonlinear Dynamics and Pattern Formation