2D interactions and binary crystals of dipolar and quadrupolar nematic colloids.

In this Letter, we demonstrate that the symmetry of the elastic interaction between the dipolar and quadrupolar colloidal particles in the nematic liquid crystal leads to a novel variety of 2D nematic "binary" colloidal crystals, which have not been observed in any colloidal system. The di...

Popoln opis

Bibliografske podrobnosti
Main Authors: Ognysta, U, Nych, A, Nazarenko, V, Musevic, I, Skarabot, M, Ravnik, M, Zumer, S, Poberaj, I, Babic, D
Format: Journal article
Jezik:English
Izdano: 2008
Opis
Izvleček:In this Letter, we demonstrate that the symmetry of the elastic interaction between the dipolar and quadrupolar colloidal particles in the nematic liquid crystal leads to a novel variety of 2D nematic "binary" colloidal crystals, which have not been observed in any colloidal system. The dipolar-quadrupolar interaction is highly anisotropic and shows a power-law dependence when the particles approach each other along the director field with a pair-binding energy of the order of several thousands of k(B)T for 4 microm diameter colloids.