Dynamics of Collective and Molecular Modes of a Ferroelectric Liquid Crystal in Confined Geometry Using Dielectric Spectroscopy

Two aerogel systems containing a ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC) with smectic phases over a wider temperature range are investigated using dielectric spectroscopy. The second order transition from Sm-A to Sm-C^* is considerably broadened and the collective modes are detected for the FLC confined in aerogel pores. An additional relaxation process (AP) seen in these confined systems arises from the interface layer, the relaxation strength of AP decreasing and of the Goldstone mode gradually increasing as temperature is lowered.