Chirality in liquid crystals : [... in honor of Prof. Gerd Heppke to felicitate him on his reaching sixty years of age

Objects that differ from their mirror images, such as the left and right hands, play an important role in physics at all lengths scales, from elementary particles to macroscopic systems. The handedness, or chirality, of molecules in liquid crystals has a remarkable influence on the macroscopic physical properties of these systems, including the appearance of new phases. Indeed, the majority of optical applications of liquid crystals is due to chiral structures, namely the thermochromic effect of cholesteric liquid crystals, the optical activity in twisted nematic liquid crystal displays, and the ferroelectric and antiferroelectric switching of smectic liquid crystals. This book describes the main aspects of chirality in liquid crystals, and points out some of the open questions of current research. The chapters, each by an expert in the field, review the highlights of the important topics and representative questions in the field of chiral liquid crystals.

objects That Differ From Their Mirror Images, Such As The Left And Right Hands, Play An Important Role In Physics At All Lengths Scales, From Elementary Particles To Macroscopic Systems. The Handedness, Or Chirality, Of Molecules In Liquid Crystals Has A Remarkable Influence On The Macroscopic Physical Properties Of These Systems, Including The Appearance Of New Phases. Indeed, The Majority Of Optical Applications Of Liquid Crystals Is Due To Chiral Structures, Namely The Thermochromic Effect Of Cholesteric Liquid Crystals, The Optical Activity In Twisted Nematic Liquid Crystal Displays, And The Ferroelectric And Antiferroelectric Switching Of Smectic Liquid Crystals.
this Book Describes The Main Aspects Of Chirality In Liquid Crystals, And Points Out Some Of The Open Questions Of Current Research. The Chapters, Each By An Expert In The Field, Review The Highlights Of The Important Topics And Representative Questions In The Field Of Chiral Liquid Crystals.

Introduction....Pages 1-27 Classroom Experiments with Chiral Liquid Crystals....Pages 28-66 From a Chiral Molecule to a Chiral Anisotropic Phase....Pages 67-100 Chemical Structures and Polymorphism....Pages 101-114 Cholesteric Liquid Crystals: Defects and Topology....Pages 115-158 Cholesteric Liquid Crystals: Optics, Electro-optics, and Photo-optics....Pages 159-185 Blue Phases....Pages 186-222 Smectic Liquid Crystals: Ferroelectric Properties and Electroclinic Effect....Pages 223-250 Smectic Liquid Crystals: Antiferroelectric and Ferrielectric Phases....Pages 251-295 Twist Grain Boundary Phases....Pages 296-354 Columnar Liquid Crystals....Pages 355-374 Some Aspects of Polymer Dispersed and Polymer Stabilized Chiral Liquid Crystals....Pages 375-432 Chirality in Liquid Crystal Elastomers....Pages 433-446 Phase Chirality of Micellar Lyotropic Liquid Crystals....Pages 447-480 Traveling Phase Boundaries with the Broken Symmetries of Life....Pages 481-493 Structures without mirror symmetry are extensively found in nature.