VESICLE TO MICELLE TRANSITIONS INDUCED BY COULOMB CORRELATIONS IN 2 DIMENSIONS

We present a model for mimicking a two-dimensional Coulomb system usin g mixed cationic-anionic surfactants. A theory for vesicle to micelle transitions is developed by extending the model for lipid-detergent mi xtures. It is concluded that the equilibrium concentrations of the dip oles and dissociated ions in the polar regions are the key parameters which bring about the supramolecular transition on varying the tempera ture. Temperature variations in the turbidity, phase diagram and degre e of dissociation are calculated. The turbidity results are found to b e in quantitative agreement with experiment.