Microsphere manipulation using ferroelectric liquid crystals.

We propose a strategy for a micromanipulation method using SSFLC (surface stabilized ferroelectric liquid crystals). By adjusting the frequency of the applied ac electric field, the surface layers that cannot follow an applied ac electric field are constructed in SSFLC. In addition, by applying a sawtooth wave voltage, net flow along the smectic layer is generated.

Mechanism of sign inversion of spontaneous polarization in ferroelectric SmC* liquid crystals.

The ferroelectric liquid crystal FLC-117, which is known to exhibit at a certain temperature the sign inversion of spontaneous polarization P(s), is studied under an electric field. From the analysis of the electro-optic response and the direct texture observations, it is concluded that the inversion temperature of P(s) has the applied voltage dependence. To interpret our experimental result, we introduce a coupling term between the molecular dipole moments and the magnitude of the applied electric fields to the asymmetric rotational potential about the molecular long axis.