437 research outputs found
The Influence of Substrate Structure on Membrane Adhesion
We consider a membrane both weakly and strongly adhering to a geometrically
structured substrate. The interaction potential is assumed to be local, via the
Deryagin approximation, and harmonic. Consequently, we can analytically
describe a variety of different geometries: as well as randomly rough
self-affine surfaces, smooth substrates interrupted by an isolated cylindrical
pit, a single elongated trench or a periodic array of trenches are
investigated. We present more general expressions for the adhesion energy and
membrane configuration in Fourier space and find that, compared to planar
surfaces, the adhesion energy decreases. We also highlight the possibility of
overshoots occurring in the membrane profile and look at its degree of
penetration into surface indentations.Comment: 41 pages LaTex, 12 EPS figure
Surface induced ordering in thin film diblock copolymers: tilted lamellar phases
We investigate the effect of chemically patterned surfaces on the morphology
of diblock copolymers below the order-disorder transition. Profiles for
lamellar phases in contact with one surface, or confined between two surfaces
are obtained in the weak segregation limit using a Ginzburg-Landau expansion of
the free energy, and treating it with mean-field theory. The periodically
patterned surface induces a tilt of the lamellae in order to match the surface
periodicity. The lamellae relax from the constrained periodicity close to the
surface to the bulk periodicity far from it. The phases we investigate are a
generalization to the mixed (perpendicular and parallel to the surface)
lamellar phases occurring when the two surfaces are homogeneous. A special case
when the surface pattern has a period equal to the bulk lamellar period showing
``T-junction'' morphology is examined. Our analytic calculation agrees with
previous computer simulations and self consistent field theories.Comment: 7 figures, replaced with minor modification
Manning condensation in two dimensions
We consider a macroion confined to a cylindrical cell and neutralized by
oppositely charged counterions. Exact results are obtained for the
two-dimensional version of this problem, in which ion-ion and ion-macroion
interactions are logarithmic. In particular, the threshold for counterion
condensation is found to be the same as predicted by mean-field theory. With
further increase of the macroion charge, a series of single-ion condensation
transitions takes place. Our analytical results are expected to be exact in the
vicinity of these transitions and are in very good agreement with recent
Monte-Carlo simulation data.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure
Wigner-Crystal Formulation of Strong-Coupling Theory for Counter-ions Near Planar Charged Interfaces
We present a new analytical approach to the strong electrostatic coupling
regime (SC), that can be achieved equivalently at low temperatures, high
charges, low dielectric permittivity etc. Two geometries are analyzed in
detail: one charged wall first, and then, two parallel walls at small
distances, that can be likely or oppositely charged. In all cases, one type of
mobile counter-ions only is present, and ensures electroneutrality (salt free
case). The method is based on a systematic expansion around the ground state
formed by the two-dimensional Wigner crystal(s) of counter-ions at the
plate(s). The leading SC order stems from a single-particle theory, and
coincides with the virial SC approach that has been much studied in the last 10
years. The first correction has the functional form of the virial SC
prediction, but the prefactor is different. The present theory is free of
divergences and the obtained results, both for symmetrically and asymmetrically
charged plates, are in excellent agreement with available data of Monte-Carlo
simulations under strong and intermediate Coulombic couplings. All results
obtained represent relevant improvements over the virial SC estimates. The
present SC theory starting from the Wigner crystal and therefore coined Wigner
SC, sheds light on anomalous phenomena like the counter-ion mediated
like-charge attraction, and the opposite-charge repulsion
A Poisson-Boltzmann approach for a lipid membrane in an electric field
The behavior of a non-conductive quasi-planar lipid membrane in an
electrolyte and in a static (DC) electric field is investigated theoretically
in the nonlinear (Poisson-Boltzmann) regime. Electrostatic effects due to
charges in the membrane lipids and in the double layers lead to corrections to
the membrane elastic moduli which are analyzed here. We show that, especially
in the low salt limit, i) the electrostatic contribution to the membrane's
surface tension due to the Debye layers crosses over from a quadratic behavior
in the externally applied voltage to a linear voltage regime. ii) the
contribution to the membrane's bending modulus due to the Debye layers
saturates for high voltages. Nevertheless, the membrane undulation instability
due to an effectively negative surface tension as predicted by linear
Debye-H\"uckel theory is shown to persist in the nonlinear, high voltage
regime.Comment: 15 pages, 4 figure
Kinetics of Surfactant Adsorption at Fluid/Fluid Interfaces: Non-ionic Surfactants
We present a model treating the kinetics of adsorption of soluble
surface-active molecules at the interface between an aqueous solution and
another fluid phase. The model accounts for both the diffusive transport inside
the solution and the kinetics taking place at the interface using a free-energy
formulation. In addition, it offers a general method of calculating dynamic
surface tensions. Non-ionic surfactants are shown, in general, to undergo a
diffusion-limited adsorption, in accord with experimental findings.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures, see also cond-mat/960814
Discrete aqueous solvent effects and possible attractive forces
We study discrete solvent effects on the interaction of two parallel charged
surfaces in ionic aqueous solution. These effects are taken into account by
adding a bilinear non-local term to the free energy of Poisson-Boltzmann
theory. We study numerically the density profile of ions between the two
plates, and the resulting inter-plate pressure. At large plate separations the
two plates are decoupled and the ion distribution can be characterized by an
effective Poisson-Boltzmann charge that is smaller than the nominal charge. The
pressure is thus reduced relative to Poisson-Boltzmann predictions. At plate
separations below ~2 nm the pressure is modified considerably, due to the
solvent mediated short-range attraction between ions in the the system. For
high surface charges this contribution can overcome the mean-field repulsion
giving rise to a net attraction between the plates.Comment: 12 figures in 16 files. 19 pages. Submitted to J. Chem. Phys., July
200
Adsorption of polymers on a fluctuating surface
We study the adsorption of polymer chains on a fluctuating surface. Physical
examples are provided by polymer adsorption at the rough interface between two
non-miscible liquids, or on a membrane. In a mean-field approach, we find that
the self--avoiding chains undergo an adsorption transition, accompanied by a
stiffening of the fluctuating surface. In particular, adsorption of polymers on
a membrane induces a surface tension and leads to a strong suppression of
roughness.Comment: REVTEX, 9 pages, no figure
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