title: Dynamics of structural transformations between lamellar and inverse bicontinuous cubic lyotropic phases.
abstract: The liquid crystalline lamellar (L(alpha)) to double-diamond inverse bicontinuous cubic (Q(D)(pi)) phase transition for the amphiphile monoelaidin in excess water exhibits a remarkable sequence of structural transformations for pressure or temperature jumps. Our data imply that the transition dynamics depends on a coupling between changes in molecular shape and the geometrical and topological constraints of domain size. We propose a qualitative model for this coupling based on theories of membrane fusion via stalks and existing knowledge of the structure and energetics of bicontinuous cubic phases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, London, SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Charlotte E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Conn
authors.forename: Oscar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ces
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Mulet
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Finet
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Winter
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Seddon
authors.forename: Richard H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Templer