Interplay of polar order and positional order in liquid crystals -- observation of re-entrant ferroelectric nematic phase
Year: 2025
Type: preprint
Abstract: We show that development of polar order may spontaneously destroy the lamellar structure of a liquid crystal. This results in an unusual sequence of phases with the ferroelectric nematic phase appearing below a non-polar smectic phase. The effect is related to unfavourable dipole interactions within the smectic layers and can be explained by Landau theory in which the temperature dependent term is non-monotonic as it is renormalized by spontaneous electric polarization.
Source: arXiv (Cornell University)
Authors: Strachan, Grant, Ramsay, Shona, Juodka, Marijus, Pociecha, Damian, Szydlowska, Jadwiga, Storey, John M. D., Vaupotic, Natasa, Walker, Rebecca, Gorecka, Ewa
Language: English
Field: Materials Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W6979374870
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