Effect of shear flow on the electric polarization of a Sm-C^{*} liquid crystal.

Abstract

The electric polarization of ferroelectric Smectic-C^{*}(SmC^{*}) liquid crystal is always measured on static samples confined between two fixed electrodes. Here, we study the effect of shear flow on the electric polarization of a SmC^{*} liquid crystal. We observe three distinct regimes in the shear rate-dependent polarization curve. At a low shear rate, the polarization increases rapidly. In the intermediate shear rate range, polarization tends to saturate, and at sufficiently high shear rates, the polarization decreases. The results are discussed based on smectic layer orientations under the combined effect of shear flow and probe electric fields.