Bias dependent relaxation in different phases of an orthoconic antiferroelectric liquid crystal mixture (W-182)

The electro-optical behavior of the orthoconic antiferroelectric liquid crystal mixture W-182 has been studied. Surface-stabilized, low thickness cells of this mixture give a perfect double hysteresis loop with 1 Hz triangular signal, reaching different transmission levels for different voltages amplitudes. These levels can be stabilized with a single holding voltage, making it possible for the material to be passively multiplexed at video rate. With the application of bias field at three different temperatures, we have observed the field-induced Fréedericksz transition from SmIA∗–SmCA∗, antiferroelectric to ferroelectric, and ferroelectric to paraelectric transition. Such Fréedericksz transition point is decreased with the increase of temperature.