Reorientation effect on the current–voltage characteristics of a nematic cell

Possible mechanisms explaining the character of the relation I=I(V)I=I(V) for a nematic cell subjected to a large electric field are discussed, taking into account the reorientation effect of the nematic director induced by the external electric field. The analysis is performed in the quasi-static regime where the nematic orientation follows the time variation of the external field without delay. The time variation of the equivalent capacitance of the cell is equivalent to a pure resistance, and is responsible for a current peak when the applied voltage overcomes the threshold voltage for the transition of Fréedericksz.