Response of structures formed by individual and self-organized inclusions to electric field in ferroelectric smectic nanofilms

We demonstrate manipulation of individual inclusions and self-organized structures of inclusions in smectic films. In polar SmC* freely suspended films electric field reversal leads to reorientation of smectic islands. We observed different behavior of self-organized chains from islands upon switching the direction of the electric field. Chains can reorient as a whole without decomposition. Upon a sharp change of the direction of the field chains can partially decompose and then form again with a modified sequence of inclusions in the chains.