Abstract
We have studied the interparticle force between colloidal particles with three different types of defects in nematic liquid crystal by dual-beam optical tweezers. The force between a dipole (D)- and a Saturn-ring (S)-type particle at large interparticle distance R is proportional to R-4.95 ±0.05. The force between a D- and a planar (P)-type particle and that between an S- and a P-type particle are, respectively, proportional to R-5.04±0.08 and R-5.78 ±0.13. The observed dependence of the interparticle force on R at large R is in agreement with that predicted by electrostatic analogy. The topological quadrupole moments for S and P particles are evaluated from experimental data. We have also studied the force curves in oblique arrangement against the far-field director for respective pairs. The experimental force curves at large R quantitatively agree with those predicted by electrostatic analogy, but they always become attractive at small R due to the reorientation and deformation of defects. The force profiles for the S-P pair are also compared with those obtained by the recent numerical simulation.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Article number | 062507 |
Journal | Physical Review E - Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics |
Volume | 87 |
Issue number | 6 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Jun 20 2013 |
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Statistical and Nonlinear Physics
- Statistics and Probability
- Condensed Matter Physics