Splayed polarization in the ferroelectric phase of a bent-core liquid crystal as studied by optical second-harmonic generation

Splayed polarization orientation has been confirmed in the anticlinic ferroelectric phase of a bent-core liquid crystal containing chiral end chains, P-8-OPIMB6*, by optical second-harmonic generation (SHG). The in-plane anisotropy of the SHG signal exhibits an unusual six-peak pattern under the rotation of parallel polarizers in the absence of an electric field, while a usual four-peak pattern simulatable using a uniform molecular orientation model is observed under a field. The unusual pattern was explained by considering a splayed polarization orientation including the effect of polarization charges.