LAUSR

Abstract Mesogenic dimers in the twist-bend nematic phase exhibit much higher flexoelectric polarization than in their uniform nematic phase. In order to theoretically investigate this data, we extend the symmetry based linear elastic theory of the twist-bend nematic phase developed in Phys. Rev. E 92, 030501(R) 2015, by including flexoelectricity under the action of an external electric field perpendicular to the helical axis. We show that at the nematic towards twist-bend nematic transition, a new flexoelectric mode becomes active. Consequently, the present model predicts the increase of the effective flexoelectric coefficient when the system is entering the twist-bend nematic phase. The influence of the flexoelectric coupling on the equilibrium wavevector and the spontaneous heliconical tilt angle are investigated. The electroclinic coefficient is calculated. Finally we argue that the helix could be unwound giving rise to a splay-bend nematic phase.