We simulate colloids (radius R∼1μm) trapped at the interface between
a cholesteric liquid crystal and an immiscible oil, at which the helical order
(pitch p) in the bulk conflicts with the orientation induced at the interface,
stabilizing an ordered array of disclinations. For weak anchoring strength W of
the director field at the colloidal surface, this creates a template, favoring
particle positions eitheron top of or midway between defect lines, depending on
α=R/p. For small α, optical microscopy experiments confirm this
picture, but for larger α no templating is seen. This may stem from the
emergence at moderate W of a rugged energy landscape associated with defect
reconnections.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure