Liquid crystal device and liquid crystal display apparatus having a chevron structure in monostable alignment

A liquid crystal device, comprising:

• a pair of oppositely disposed substrates and a liquid crystal having chiral smectic C phase disposed therebetween, each of the substrates having thereon an electrode for applying a voltage to the liquid crystal, at least one of the substrates being provided with a uniaxial alignment axis for aligning the liquid crystal,
• wherein the liquid crystal is placed in an alignment state in chiral smectic C phase such that:
• (a) under no electric field application, the liquid crystal forms a chevron structure and is placed in a monostable alignment state such that an average molecular axis substantially in alignment with the uniaxial alignment axis and/or a bisector of a maximum angle formed between two extreme molecular axes established under electric field application, and
• (b) under electric field application, the liquid crystal provides an effective tilt angle and a transmittance that continuously changed depending on an electric field applied thereto.