Comparison between the switching dynamics of homeotropic and planar cells of chiral smectic-C liquid crystals

The switching characteristics under a square-wave electric field are studied in homeotropic and planar ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC) cells via electro-optic and second-harmonic-generation interference measurements. These are independent and self-contained techniques, and have led the authors to obtain equivalent results. The study is performed on FLCs with very different molecular structures. Clearly, at least two alternative switching mechanisms occur in FLC samples depending on the type of alignment. The different switching dynamics is a consequence of the boundary conditions to which the system is subjected in each case.