Laws of formation of polar smectic phases under a frustrated interaction

The Landau theory of phase transitions with a two-component order parameter is used to systematically calculate the structures and phase diagrams of polar liquid crystals. Commensurate and incommensurate structures with a layer-type period form as a result of a frustration interaction. Phase diagrams are calculated when various short- and long-range interlayer interactions are sequentially introduced. As a result, the nature of formation of various structures is revealed. The calculated phase diagrams explain the formation of various phases, their temperature sequence (including so-called “unusual” sequence of phases), and the nature of forces responsible for the formation of a certain structure and the shape of a phase diagram.