Freedericksz transitions in the nematic and smectic ZA phases of DIO†

The remarkable material DIO presents fascinating behaviors. It has been extensively studied as one of the first materials exhibiting a ferroelectric nematic phase. However, at higher temperatures it exhibits what has been termed the smectic Z_A: identified as an orientationally ordered, antiferroelectric phase with a density modulation in direction perpendicular to the optic axis. At even higher temperatures, this transitions to an apparently normal nematic phase. We have studied the splay-bend Freedericksz transition in the nematic and SmZ_A phases of the material DIO. Both the magnetic and electric field transitions were utilized. We observed the transitions by measuring effective birefringence and capacitance as well as with polarizing light microscopy. In both the nematic and the SmZ_A states the field induced transitions resemble (in numerous aspects) the classical Freedericksz transition. These enable determinations of several fundamental material parameters and also reveal intriguing aspects of the SmZ_A phase, including the surprising behavior of the elastic constants and the dielectric anisotropy. Detailed comparison with Frank elastic theory of the Freedericksz transition shows that the N phase behaves largely as expected, but the transition in the SmZ_A phase differs significantly. Two specific examples of this are the onset of striations in the Freedericksz distorted state, and the presence of optical biaxiality. The former may be related to the periodic Freedericksz transition as it coincides with a large increase in the splay elastic constant. The latter has been predicted for the SmZ_A phase, but not previously observed.