Abstract: An improved ferroelectric liquid crystal device comprising a pair of substrates each provided with voltage applying means, at least one of the substrates having an orientation control layer, and a ferroelectric liquid crystal layer disposed between the pair of substrates, the ferroelectric liquid crystal layer comprising specific .gamma.-lactone derivatives, which is useful as a liquid crystal shutter, liquid crystal display device or the like.

Abstract: In a display device, display electrodes and insulation layers are formed on a pair of substrates with a display layer placed therebetween. In this display device, plural display picture elements are set according to the arrangement state of the display electrodes. In the display picture elements, divisions are set in the insulation layers and different dielectric constants are set for each division. Therefore, the display device has a different impedance in every division within the display picture element and the apparent threshold voltage of each division may be varied. As a result, gradations corresponding to the number of divisions within each display picture element may be displayed.

Abstract: A chiral smectic liquid crystal composition comprising one or more liquid crystalline compound exhibiting a smectic C phase and at least one compound of the formula (A): ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are same or different and are each a straight-chain or branched-chain alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, and each C marked with * is an optically active carbon atoms, and a liquid crystal display device containing it.