Kozachenko A. Texture and phase conversions in the induced short pitch chiral mesophases.

The general molecular statistic theories of the helical ordering in chiral mesophases are considered and analyzed. The influence of chiral dopant molecular structure upon their inducing characteristics in the induced chiral nematic mesophases is investigated in three systematic rows: l-menthol, 2-methylbutanol and S-a-phenylethylamine derivatives. The influence of boundary conditions upon optical properties and domain formation of polydomain planar textures is explored in short pitch surface stabilized cholesteric systems. Complex characteristics of bistability in the induced short pitch chiral mesophases such as electroptical, temporal and hysteresis were obtained for the different boundary conditions. Kinetics of nucleation process is analyzed in various cholesteric systems. It was proven experimentally the influence of boundary conditions and interaction energy of liquid crystal molecules upon characteristics of nucleation process during reverse nematic to cholesteric transition. Phenomenon of diele ctric instability in short pitch Grandjean texture has considered for the first time as perspective electrooptical effect despite the absence of bistability properties. It was shown an effect to possess selective reflection properties, low operation voltage, very high contrast ratio, wide viewing cone, moderate switching times and no polarizers.