'Setting things straight' by twisting and bending?

TL;DR

This paper clarifies the classification of the N_X phase in cyanobiphenyl dimers, identifying it as a polar twisted nematic phase, and discusses the controversy surrounding its nature.

Contribution

It introduces the N_X phase as a new polar twisted nematic, resolving classification debates and providing a clearer understanding of its structure.

Findings

N_X phase is a polar twisted nematic.

The phase's unique structure explains its properties.

Clarifies the controversy over its classification.

Abstract

We explain the origins of the controversy about the classification of the $N_X$ phase observed in cyanobiphenyl dimers and why it is a polar twisted phase, an entirely new kind of nematic.