Chiral smectic liquid crystal device

摘要

A chiral smectic liquid crystal device includes a chiral smectic liquid crystal exhibiting a phase transition series on temperature decrease of isotropic liquid phase (Iso), cholesteric phase (Ch) and chiral smectic C phase (SmC*) or of isotropic phase (Iso) and chiral smectic C phase (SmC*), and a pair of substrates each provided with an electrode for applying a voltage to the liquid crystal and a uniaxial alignment axis for aligning the liquid crystal. At least one of the substrates is provided with a polarizer and the pair of substrates are oppositely disposed to sandwich the liquid crystal so as to form a plurality of pixels each provided with an active element connected to an associated electrode on at least one of the substrates. The liquid crystal device further includes means for providing a difference in potential between the pair of substrates of at least 100 mV under a condition free from application of an external electric field in a temperature range of Tc ±2 °C where Tc denotes a phase transition temperature from Ch to SmC* or from Iso to SmC*.