Stroboscopic microscopy of ferroelectric liquid crystals

We have studied the switching of surface-stabilized ferroelectric-liquid-crystal (SSFLC) cells using stroboscopic microscopy. We find that the switching process in the chevron-layer-shaped SSFLC's is mediated by domains that occur at the chevron interface and that are nucleated both heterogeneously and homogeneously; that some features of the growth of the domains can be described well by existing theories; and that the peculiar terminal ``speedboat'' shape of the domains is a function of the applied electric field and the sample temperature. We examine the possible mechanisms that result in asymmetries in domain-wall velocities.