ac and dc electro-optical response of planar aligned liquid crystal cells

Interaction of static electric fields with a nematic is complicated because of the presence of charges, which originates from aligning layers or from molecular breakdown, affecting the electro-optic response of a liquid crystal cell. We analyze the aligning layers effect on the electro-optical response and develop a model based on a description of the ion balance on the conducting plates taking into account both drift current and saturation effects due to the ion migration inside the cell, neglecting diffusion current. The model well agrees with data for low voltages, while for higher ones, diffusion current should be taken into account. (c) 2007 American Institute of Physics.