Defect-Mediated Emulsification in Two Dimensions

Abstract

We consider two dimensional dispersions of droplets of isotropic phase in a liquid with an XY-like order parameter, tilt, nematic, and hexatic symmetries being included. Strong anchoring boundary conditions are assumed. Textures for a single droplet and a pair of droplets are calculated and a universal droplet-droplet pair potential is obtained. The interaction of dispersed droplets via the ordered phase is attractive at large distances and repulsive at short distances, which results in a well defined preferred separation for two droplets and topological stabilization of the emulsion. This interaction also drives self-assembly into chains. Preferred separations and energy barriers to coalescence are calculated, and effects of thermal fluctuations and film thickness are discussed.

revtex4, 13 pages, 12 figures

References in corpus (5)

• Topological Defects and Interactions in Nematic Emulsions
• Lateral phase separation in mixtures of lipids and cholesterol systems
• Simulating Particle Dispersions in Nematic Liquid-Crystal Solvents
• Colloidal interactions in two dimensional nematics
• Stability of Texture and Shape of Circular Domains of Langmuir Monolayers

Cited by in corpus (5)

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• Textures in Polygonal Arrangements of Square Nanoparticles in Nematic Liquid Crystals Matrices