The effect of optical purity on the coexistence phenomenon and on the polarization - electric field hysteresis behavior in SmC* and SmC*A phases

We investigated the effect of optical purity on the temperature range of coexistence phenomenon of the phase transition from SmC* to SmC*A for various enantiomeric mixtures. The results obtained using dielectric and electro-optic techniques show that the extent of the coexistence phenomenon decreases with decreasing optical purity. We described physical properties including spontaneous polarization, response time, rotational viscosity and Goldstone mode dielectric strength, for all mixtures. Such measurements offer an insight into the factors that affect the extent of coexistence phenomenon. We reported detailed results of polarization-electric field (P − E) hysteresis behavior in SmC* and SmC*A phases with varying optical purity. We also found a correspondence between coexistence and hysteresis phenomenon.