Eur. Phys. J. E (2006) 20: 231-236
https://doi.org/10.1140/epje/i2006-10016-2

Regular Article

Colloids on free-standing smectic films

¹ Jožef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, SI-1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
² Department of Physics, University of Ljubljana, Jadranska 19, SI-1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia

^* e-mail: igor.musevic@ijs.si

Received: 8 May 2006
Accepted: 29 May 2006
Published online: 21 June 2006

Abstract

We study the structure of a free-standing smectic-A film around a micron-size polystyrene colloid adsorbed onto the film. We find that a colloid or a cluster of colloids is surrounded by an optically distinct and radially decorated meniscus ending with a sharp edge. The observed strong and finite-range attraction between the adsorbed colloids is driven by the fusion of menisci. We interpret the structure of the smectic meniscus in terms of a model dominated by the surface free energy and we argue that the characteristic appearance of the meniscus is due to layer undulations.