Interaction of foreign macrodroplets in a nematic liquid crystal and induced supermolecular structures

The behavior of a system of macroscopic particles introduced in a nematic l iquid crystal is studied theoretically. The energy of the pair interparticl e interaction associated with the director elastic field deformation is fou nd. The interaction intensity and character are studied as functions of the distance, the geometric parameters of foreign macroparticles, and the valu e of their anchoring to the mesophase. The interparticle interaction can ca use nontrivial collective behavior that results in the formation of new spa tially modulated structures in the macroparticle system. The periodic arran gement of chiral particles that induces a helical structure can give rise t o two incommensurable periods in the average orientation distribution of ma croparticles. [S1063-651X(99)12701-6].