https://doi.org/10.1007/s100510050992
Weak surface energy in nematic dispersions: Saturn ring defects and quadrupolar interactions
1
Centre de Recherche
Paul Pascal - CNRS, avenue A. Schweitzer, 33600 Pessac, France
2
CGM-CNRS, avenue de la Terrasse, 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
Corresponding author: a mondain@crpp.u-bordeaux.fr
Received:
21
June
1999
Published online: 15 November 1999
The role of surface energy in the behavior of colloidal particles in liquid crystalline phases is investigated. When the surface energy dominates, a hedgehog defect is formed and, according to an electrostatic analogy, the distortions around the particles exhibit a dipolar character. By contrast, for weaker anchoring, the configuration becomes quadrupolar as evidenced by the structure of latex clusters in lyotropic systems and the observation of defects reminiscent of Saturn rings in thermotropic systems.
PACS: 61.30.Jf – Defects in liquid crystals / 82.70.Dd – Colloids / 83.70.Jr – Liquid crystals: nematic, cholesteric, smectic, discotic, etc.
© EDP Sciences, Società Italiana di Fisica, Springer-Verlag, 1999
