Long-range elastic-mediated interaction between nanoparticles adsorbed on free-standing smectic films

Abstract

We determine the elastic-mediated interaction between colloidal nanoparticles adsorbed on the surface of free-standing smectic films. In contrast with the short-range character of the elastic-mediated force between particles adsorbed on smectic films supported by a solid substrate, the effective force acquires a long-range character in free-standing films, decaying with the particles distance R as slow as 1 / R . We also discuss the dependence of the effective interaction potential on the surface tension γ and film thickness. We show that it decays as 1 / γ in the regime of large surface tensions and becomes independent of the film thickness at a characteristic surface tension.