Abstract: A ferroelectric liquid crystal composition comprises ferroelectric liquid crystal molecules defined by the product between a liquid crystal molecule design parameter, .alpha., and an apparent cone angle, .theta., of the liquid crystal molecules, .alpha..theta., being such that 12.5.ltoreq..alpha..theta..ltoreq.16 wherein .alpha.=(an infrared peak intensity ratio of the alkyl chain portion of a liquid crystal molecule prior to and after switching through an electric field)/(an infrared peak intensity ratio of the core portion of the liquid crystal molecules prior to and after switching through an electric field) and .theta. is an apparent cone angle (.degree.) observed from the direction to the substrate normal and the cone has an imaginary circular cone surface when liquid crystal molecules are rotated along the imaginary circular cone surface at the time of switching through an electric field. The composition ensures high speed response and high contrast.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an optically active compound and a ferroelectric liquid crystal composition produced therefrom. The optically active compound has a fluorine atom introduced into the core nucleus so that it does not take on the smectic phase of a high order except for the smectic A phase and smectic C phase and which has carbonyl groups (for dipole) at adequate positions so that it exihibits greater spontaneous polarization. The ferroelectric liquid crystal composition is composed of a chiral component (including the optically active compound) and a non-chiral component, and hence it is superior in response performance.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device having fast response characteristics and enabling analog gray-scale display is provided. The liquid crystal display device is formed of a liquid crystal material having the chiral smectic C phase. The projection component on the substrates of the axial direction of a cone delineated by a liquid crystal molecule, and the projection component on the substrates of the axial direction of the liquid crystal molecule itself, are adapted to be coincident with the processing direction for uniaxial orientation of the substrates, this state being monostabilized as the initial state. On application of an electrical field, the liquid crystal molecule is rotated along the cone and the apparent tilt angle as viewed on the substrate surface is continuously changed in accordance with the strength of the applied electrical field. The intensity of the transmitted light is increased continuously with increasing tilt angle to obtain the continuous gray-scale or analog gray-scale.

Abstract: The present application describes a photoresist material which contains organo-silicon groups and the photoresist material is suitable for forming a micropattern applied in the fabrication of semiconductor integrated circuit and magnetic bubble memory elements. The photoresist material possesses high resistance to plasma etching using oxygen gas.