Pyroelectric and electromechanical properties of the antiferroelectric liquid crystal MHPOBC

We study pyroelectric and electromechanical effects in the prototype antiferroelectric liquid crystal 4-(1-methylheptyloxycarbonyl-phenyl)4'-octylbiphenil-4-carboxylate (MHPOBC). The linear electromechanical effect in the freely suspended liquid crystal films of MHPOBC has been detected in the broad temperature range inclusive of the antiferroelectric SmCA* as well as paraelectric SmA. The anomalous behavior of the hysteresis loop of SmC beta* in the (pyroelectric coefficient, do bias electric voltage) coordinates has been found. (C) 2005 Pleiades Publishing, Inc.