Ferroelectric smectic C (FSC) liquid crystals are used in a simple new geometry that allows the spontaneous formation of either of two surface‐stabilized smectic C monodomains of opposite ferroelectric polarization. These domains are separated by well‐defined walls which may be manipulated with an applied electric field. The resulting electro‐optic effects exhibit a unique combination of properties: microsecond dynamics, threshold behavior, symmetric bistability, and a large electro‐optic response.

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3.
The suppression of the helix for the stronger boundary condition γ1 = 0,γ2 = Ω0 to form a unique stable SC monodomain has been demonstrated [
M.
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and
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,
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3
,
237
248
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4.
S. Garoff, Ph.D. thesis, Harvard University, 1977 (unpublished).
5.
DOBAMBC is decyloxybenzylidene p′‐amino 2 methyl butyl cinnamate. See Ref. 1;
HOBACPC is hexyloxybenzylidene p′‐amino 2 chloropropyl cinnamate. See
P.
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,
S.
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,
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, and
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282C
,
639
641
(
1976
). Both compounds have isotropic‐SA‐SC‐SF phases.
6.
Sample thickness was determined using the Newton color sequence.
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P.
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19
(
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