E-T Phase Diagrams of an Antiferroelectric Liquid Crystal with Re-Entrant Smectic C* Phase

We have investigated the phase transition behaviors of an antiferroelectric liquid crystal, which was reported to exhibit a re-entrant phase transition (SmC*-SmCA*-SmC*-SmA in the order of increasing temperature) by application of electric fields. By birefringence and dielectric measurements an electric-field-temperature (E-T) phase diagram was obtained. In the E-T phase diagram, it was observed that the SmCA* phase disappears under high electric fields and it is isolated. In addition, there is a boundary line between the high- and low-temperature SmC* phases.