SSFLC field-induced director pattern modulation described in terms of smectic layer bending

It is proposed to modify the description of the electric-field-induced modulation of the director pattern in surface stabilized ferroelectric liquid crystal (SSFLC) structures. This modification is based on a constantly planar-oriented director pattern, combined with the boundary conditions that the smectic layer tilt is relatively fixed near the surface, but free at the chevron interface. As a consequence the interaction between an electric field and the polarization causes a bending of the smectic layers. This description is able to provide a consistent interpretation of reported data on the electro-optical behaviour of SSFLC structures.