title: Fluctuation effects and the stability of the Fddd network phase in diblock copolymer melts.
abstract: We examine the effect of composition fluctuations on the stability of the orthorhombic Fddd network phase in the diblock copolymer melt phase diagram within the self-consistent Hartree approximation to the Landau-Brazovskii theory. For weak fluctuations, the Fddd structure is an equilibrium phase; however, stronger fluctuations render this phase metastable. These results suggest a reinterpretation of a recent experiment beyond mean-field theory. Fluctuations may also explain why an equilibrium Fddd phase is not generally observed in analogous self-assembling systems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, Nova Scotia B2G 2W5, Canada. bingmiao@ohysics.uoguelph.ca
authors.forename: Bing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Miao
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Wickham