A simple geometrical model for threshold behavior and molecular switching dynamics in antiferroelectric liquid crystals

We have developed a geometrical model for the field induced antiferroelectric-ferroelectric (AF-FO) liquid crystal phase transition. The model is based on the electrostatic dipolar interactions between two nearest neighboring dipoles at the molecular ends. The observed temperature dependences of the threshold field, E-th, for the AF-FO transition, the polarization, P, in the FO phase, the molecular switching are consistent with theoretical predictions. A linear relationship between E-th and P is found in the region where the molecular tilt remains fairly constant.