Collective and molecular dynamics in ferroelectric liquid crystals: from low molar to polymeric and elastomeric systems |
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Authors: | F Kremer A Schnfeld A Hofmann R Zentel H Poths |
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Institution: | F. Kremer,A. Schönfeld,A. Hofmann,R. Zentel,H. Poths |
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Abstract: | Broadband dielectric spectroscopy delivers in the frequency range from 10 Hz to 1010 Hz two collective dielectric loss processes (soft and Goldstone modes) and one molecular relaxation (β-relaxation). The soft mode and Goldstone mode are assigned to the fluctuation of the amplitude and the phase of the helical superstructure. The β-relaxation corresponds to the libration (hindered rotation) of the mesogene around its long molecular axis. At the SmA–SmC* phase transition this process does not split or broaden, and the temperature dependence of its relaxation rate does not show any deviation from an Arrhenius-like behavior. Its dielectric strength does not decline at the SmA–SmC* phase transition. These experimental findings are in contrast to the common explanation of the origin of the saturation polarization (“induced spontaneous polarization”), which is based on the existence of a “free” rotation inside the SmA phase and its strong hindrance in the ferroelectric SmC* phase. Furthermore, the high frequency results require a reformulation for the (generalized) Landau theory as applied to the SmA–SmC* phase transition. In comparing low molar mass and polymeric (elastomeric) FLC, the collective and molecular dynamics are qualitatively similar, independent of the molecular architecture (e.g. side-chain, combined main- and side-chain or crosslinked systems). |
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Keywords: | Ferroelectric liquid crystals Polymers Dielectric spectroscopy |
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