5. Conclusion

After more than a century of study, the physics of liquid crystals is rich in well-understood complex problems and widespread technological applications. Yet liquid crystals still offer many unsolved fundamental problems and a host of potential applications.

The study of twisted smectic (TGB) and smectic C phases, known as antiferroelectric or smectic O phases, (in which the inclination alternates from θ to – θ from one layer to the next) is only just beginning. Columnar phases have been relatively less studied than smectic phases, but their physics is a priori just as rich.

As far as applications are concerned, displays are still the major area of application for liquid crystals. Known techniques are being improved (smectic C ferroelectric states) and new processes are being tried out [such as diffusing textures of very short-pitch cholesteric...