Characteristic dielectric parameters of para-, ferro- and antiferro-electric phases of (S)-4-(1-methylheptyloxycarbonyl)phenyl-4′-(6-pentanoyloxyhex-1-oxy)biphenyl-4-carboxylate

Frequency and temperature dependence of dielectric parameters of a liquid crystalline compound (S)-4-(1-methylheptyloxycarbonyl)phenyl-4′-(6-pentanoyloxyhex-1-oxy)biphenyl-4-carboxylate under planar orientation of the molecules have been investigated in the frequency range 1 Hz-10 MHz. This compound possesses smectic paraelectric (SmA*), ferroelectric (SmC*) and antiferroelectric (SmC_A*) phases. Dielectric spectroscopy suggests the existence of a relaxation mechanism in the SmA* phase, which behaves as a soft mode. In the SmC* phase two relaxation modes are observed. One mode continues from the SmA* phase with decreasing dielectric strength and the other has characteristics of the Goldstone mode. Two dielectric relaxation modes have been observed for the SmC_A* phase. These two modes are related to the antiferroelectric ordering and the helical structure of the SmC_A* phase.     

Orientational order and distribution function in nematic 1-(4-trans hexylcyclohexyl)-4-[(2-4-isothiocyanato phenyl)ethyl] benzene

The refractive indices (n _e,?n _o) and density have been measured as a function of temperature in the liquid-crystalline and liquid phases of nematic 1-(4-trans hexylcyclohexyl)-4-[(2-4-isothiocyanato phenyl)ethyl] benzene. The molecular polarizability and orientational order parameter have been computed using the Neugebauer anisotropic local field model. The distribution function f(β), and hence the higher order parameter ?P ₄?, and nematic pair-potential have been computed at different temperatures in the nematic phase.