Emergence of a novel optically isotropic transient state with low frequency in a blue phase liquid crystal mixture

The electro-optical hysteresis characteristics in a blue phase liquid crystal system showing multi-domain platelet type body-centred cubic (BP-I) structure at different levels of applied electric field have been investigated. The BP-I state possesses a large degree of hysteresis due to its compact body-centred cubic structure. The hysteresis behaviour is discussed in the context of simulation and theoretical studies reported earlier. When the cell is driven with a low frequency square wave, a novel optically isotropic state with high value of the Kerr constant has been observed. Hysteresis and response time both show relatively lower values in this state with respect to the multi-domain BP-I state.