| Autor: |
Schlotthauer, Sergej, Stieger, Tillmann, Melle, Michael, Mazza, Marco G., Schoen, Martin |
| Rok vydání: |
2014 |
| Předmět: |
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| Druh dokumentu: |
Working Paper |
| Popis: |
Using extensive Monte Carlo (MC) simulations of colloids immersed in a nematic liquid crystal we compute an effective interaction potential via the local nematic director field and its associated order parameter. The effective potential consists of a local Landau-de Gennes (LdG) and a Frank elastic contribution. Molecular expressions for the LdG expansion coefficients are obtained via classical density functional theory (DFT). The DFT result for the LdG parameter $A$ is improved by locating the phase transition through finite-size scaling theory. We consider effective interactions between a pair of homogeneous colloids with Boojum defect topology. In particular, colloids attract each other if the angle between their center-of-mass distance vector and the far-field nematic director is about $30^{\circ}$ which settles a long-standing discrepancy between theory and experiment. Using the effective potential in two-dimensional MC simulations we show that self-assembled structures formed by the colloids are in excellent agreement with experimental data. |
| Databáze: |
arXiv |
| Externí odkaz: |
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