Electric Field Induced Transformations and Dielectric Properties in Non-Tilted Phases of a Bent-Core Smectic Liquid Crystal.

We report the structural and relaxation investigations of an achiral bent-core compound in SmAPA phase. The studied material undergoes transition from one biaxial state to the other via a uniaxial state under electric field. These transformations are explained as successive transition from antiferroelectric to ferroelectric states, where, the intermediate uniaxial state has the molecular secondary directors in the neighbouring smectic layers perpendicular to each other. We also found that near SmAPR to SmAPA phase transition the second harmonic electro-optic response, induced polarization, and the dielectric behaviour hint softening behaviour in the material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]