Collective Relaxation Processes in Nonchiral Nematics

Abstract

Nematic–nematic transitions in a highly polar nematic compound are studied, in thick cells in which the molecules are aligned parallel to the substrates but perpendicular to the applied electric field, using dielectric spectroscopy in the frequency range 1 Hz to 10 MHz over a wide temperature range. The studied compound displays three nematic phases under cooling from the isotropic phase: ubiquitous nematic N; high polarizability NX; and ferroelectric nematic NF. Two collective processes were observed. The dielectric strength and relaxation frequency of one of the processes P2 showed a dependence on the thickness of the cell. The process P1 is the amplitude mode, while the process P2 is the phason mode.

Keywords

• dielectric spectroscopy
• dielectric permittivity
• ferroelectric nematics
• chiral
• relaxation processes
• planar alignment