Interactions between colloidal inclusions in two-dimensional smectic-C* films.
We report an experimental study of colloidal inclusions in free-standing films of smectic-C* liquid crystal. The inclusions are cholesteric droplets that form above the bulk smectic-C*-7cholesteric transition temperature. Each droplet confined in a two-dimensional (2D) system, is accompanied by a topological defect. The distortions of the in-plane orientational order of the smectic-C* film induce elastic interactions between the droplets. As in 3D water nematic emulsions, a short-range repulsion and a long-range dipolar attraction govern the stability of the inclusions and lead to their organization in chainlike structures. Our results are in agreement with recent theoretical predictions.
Cluzeau
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Laboratoire de Dynamique et Structure des Matériaux Moléculaires, UPRESA CNRS No. 8024, Bâtiment P5, Université des Sciences et Technologies de Lille, F59655 Villeneuve d'Ascq Cédex, France.
Poulin
P
P
Joly
G
G
Nguyen
H T
HT