Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 21, 2026

Measuring Magnetically-Tuned Ferroelectric Polarization in Liquid Crystals
Published on: August 15, 2018
Optics of short-pitch deformed-helix ferroelectric liquid crystals: symmetries, exceptional points, and
Alexei D Kiselev1, Vladimir G Chigrinov2
1Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong and Institute of Physics of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, prospekt Nauki 46, 03680 Kiev, Ukraine.
Abstract:
In order to explore electric-field-induced transformations of polarization singularities in the polarization-resolved angular (conoscopic) patterns emerging after deformed-helix ferroelectric liquid crystal (DHFLC) cells with subwavelength helix pitch, we combine the transfer matrix formalism with the results for the effective dielectric tensor of biaxial FLCs evaluated using an improved technique of averaging over distorted helical structures. Within the framework of the transfer matrix method, we deduce a number of symmetry relations and show that the symmetry axis of L lines (curves of linear polarization) is directed along the major in-plane optical axis which rotates under the action of the electric field. When the angle between this axis and the polarization plane of incident linearly polarized light is above its critical value, the C points (points of circular polarization) appear in the form of symmetrically arranged chains of densely packed star-monstar pairs. We also emphasize the role of phase singularities of a different kind and discuss the enhanced electro-optic response of DHFLCs near the exceptional point where the condition of zero-field isotropy is fulfilled.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Chirality
Chiral objects exhibit a sense of handedness when they interact with another chiral object. For example, our left foot can only fit in the left shoe and not in the right shoe. Achiral objects — objects that have...
Crystallographic Point Groups
Imperfections in Crystal Structure: Point, Line and Plane Defects
The Seven Crystal Systems: Overview
Imperfections in Crystal Structure: Stoichiometric Point Defects
Potential Due to a Polarized Object

