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Title: Chiral ferroelectric nematic in Grandjean-Cano wedge cell
We explore the structures and confinement-induced edge dislocations in Grandjean-Cano wedge cells filled with the recently discovered chiral ferroelectric nematic (N_F^*) and chiral antiferroelectric smectic-Z 〖(SmZ〗_A^*). The chiral mixture is formed by DIO mesogen doped with a chiral additive. Wedge cells with parallel and antiparallel rubbing at the opposite plates show quantitatively different structures which is attributed to the polar in-plane anchoring of the spontaneous polarization at the rubbed substrates. The helical pitch shows a non-monotonous temperature dependence upon cooling, increasing as the temperature is lowered to the N^*-SmZ_A^* phase transition. The SmZ_A^* formed from an untwisted N^* in the thin portion of the wedge shows a bookshelf (BK) geometry, whereas the twisted N^* transforms into a twisted planar (PA) SmZ_A^* structure. In the N_F^* phase, the untwisted N^* becomes twisted in a wedge with antiparallel assembly of plates and monodomain in wedges with parallel assembly. The twisted regions of N_F^* show only one type of Grandjean zones separated by thick edge dislocations with Burgers vector b=P; the neighboring regions differ by 2π- twist.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
2122399
PAR ID:
10514946
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ; ; ; ; ;
Editor(s):
Khoo, Iam Choon
Publisher / Repository:
SPIE
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Proceedings SPIE
ISSN:
1018-4732
ISBN:
9781510665309
Page Range / eLocation ID:
9
Format(s):
Medium: X
Location:
San Diego, United States
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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