title: Colloids on free-standing smectic films.
abstract: We study the structure of a free-standing smectic-A film around a micron-size polystyrene colloid adsorbed onto the film. We find that a colloid or a cluster of colloids is surrounded by an optically distinct and radially decorated meniscus ending with a sharp edge. The observed strong and finite-range attraction between the adsorbed colloids is driven by the fusion of menisci. We interpret the structure of the smectic meniscus in terms of a model dominated by the surface free energy and we argue that the characteristic appearance of the meniscus is due to layer undulations.
authors.affiliation: Jozef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, SI-1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Conradi
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ziherl
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sarlah
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Musevic
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D035843:Biomedical Research; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003102:Colloids / Q000737:chemistry*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D055095:Optics and Photonics; D010316:Particle Size; D011137:Polystyrenes / Q000737:chemistry; D013499:Surface Properties; D013816:Thermodynamics
chemical_list: D003102:Colloids; D011137:Polystyrenes