Structural and dynamical properties of the chiral smectic C phase of ferroelectric liquid crystals showing high spontaneous polarizations

Electro-optical and dielectric investigations of a ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC) exhibiting the chiral smectic C phase (SmC*) have been carried out as a function of temperature. These experimental studies have been applied to a new FLC having high spontaneous polarization and relaxation frequency. The Goldstone relaxation mode was studied from the dielectric response of FLC cells without DC bias voltage. The rotational viscosity corresponding to molecular motion in the SmC* phase was also determined from both electro-optical and dielectric measurements. An Arrhenius-type behaviour of the rotational viscosity was obtained and the corresponding activation energies were evaluated.