Transverse polarizability of an aligned assembly of charged rods.
The low-field transverse polarizability of the counterions condensed on an isolated charged rod is small. We show that it can be much larger if the rod is a member of an assembly of aligned rods. The polarization free energy of the assembly of rods in a transverse field is then similar to its polarization free energy in a field parallel to the rods. The polarization free energy of the assembly in a transverse field becomes lower than in a parallel field if the extent of the assembly (as measured, for example, by the diameter of a cylindrical assembly) is larger than the length of the individual rods. We suggest that this model may provide a reasonable explanation for the occurrence of "anomalous" birefringence in systems of interacting charged rodlike particles.
Manning
G S
GS
Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA. jerrymanning@rcn.com
D001435:Bacteriophages / Q000737:chemistry*; D001718:Birefringence; D007477:Ions / Q000737:chemistry; D008956:Models, Chemical; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D013816:Thermodynamics
D007477:Ions