Andrienko, D., Tasinkevych, M., Patrício, P., Allen, M. P. and Telo da Gama, M. M. (2003) Forces between elongated particles in a nematic colloid. Physical Review Letters, Vol.68 (No.5). doi:10.1103/PhysRevE.68.051702 ISSN 0031-9007.

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Abstract

Using molecular dynamics simulations we study the interactions between elongated colloidal particles (length to breath ratio ≫1) in a nematic host. The simulation results are compared to the results of a Landau–de Gennes elastic free energy. We find that depletion forces dominate for the sizes of the colloidal particles studied. The tangential component of the force, however, allows us to resolve the elastic contribution to the total interaction. We find that this contribution differs from the quadrupolar interaction predicted at large separations. The difference is due to the presence of nonlinear effects, namely, the change in the positions and structure of the defects and their annihilation at small separations.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	Q Science > QC Physics
Divisions:	Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine > Science > Physics
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Colloids, Liquid crystals
Journal or Publication Title:	Physical Review Letters
Publisher:	American Physical Society
ISSN:	0031-9007
Official Date:	3 November 2003
Dates:	Date Event 3 November 2003 Published
Volume:	Vol.68
Number:	No.5
DOI:	10.1103/PhysRevE.68.051702
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Access rights to Published version:	Restricted or Subscription Access
Funder:	Alexander von Humboldt-Stiftung (AvHS), Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT)
Grant number:	SFRH/BPD/1599/2000, SFRH/BPD/5664/2001

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