The SmC α * phase which was discovered between SmA and SmC * in 4-(1-metylheptyloxycarbonyl) phenyl 4'-octyloxybiphenyl-4-carboxylate (MHPOBC) has been studied by means of electric-field-induced tilt angle measurements and conoscopic observation. The induced tilt angle increases not smoothly but stepwise in SmC α * and its neighboring SmA temperature ranges, suggesting successive structural changes, namely, Devil's staircase. According to the conoscopic figures, the existence of the ferrielectric orientation was confirmed. Devil's staircase observed as a result of changing field strength was discussed in comparison with that induced by changing temperature.
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Hiraoka et al. (1991) studied this question.
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