On the change in helix handedness at transitions between the sm-c* and sm-ca* phases in chiral smectic liquid crystals

Using a discrete model for the synclinic SmC* and the anticlinic SmC a phases we give a theoretical explanation for the fact that the helix twisting sense reverses at a transition between these phases (direct transition or via the so-called chiral smectic C ‘subphases’) and we derive an explicit expression for the helical pitch in the SmC a phase. As the theory shows and as we also demonstrate experimentally, the reversal is of a different nature from helix inversions within a single phase, where the inversion is always coupled to a pitch divergence. At a clinicity change the common behaviour is instead pitch-shortening on approaching the phase transition and the associated helix twisting sense reversal. The phenomenon may be put to use in smart mixing in order to control the helix pitch, either for achieving long pitch for surface-stabilized ferroelectric and antiferroelectric liquid crystal displays; or a very short pitch, in the case of devices utilizing the deformed helix mode