Electro-optic response in a racemic smectic C liquid crystal

The structure and properties of chiral and racemic smectic liquid crystals are presented. Remarkably, an electrical-field response of a racemic modification in its tilted smectic C phase is discovered. The switching behavior is similar to that observed for conventional, chiral, ferroelectric liquid crystals. The Figure shows unidirectional switched states in a racemic material.