Entropically-Stabilized Self-Compactification in Model Colloidal Systems
arXiv:cond-mat/0304252
Abstract
We discuss the phenomenon of spontaneous self-compactification in a model colloidal system, proposed in a recent work on DNA-mediated self-assembly. We focus on the effect of thermal fluctuations on the stability of membrane-like self-assembled phase with in-plane square order. Surprisingly, the fluctuations are shown to enhance the stability of this quasi-2D phase with respect to transition to alternative 3D structures.
4 pages, 2 figures, typo corrected