Formation of a dominant population of closed loops in wormlike micellar sys
tems, theoretically predicted but never reported so far, is achieved with a
new cationic surfactant tetramer, The contour length distribution N(L) of
the closed-looped micelles is determined by transmission electron microscop
y at cryogenic temperature. At large contour lengths, the distribution obse
rved scales as N(L) proportional to L-5/2, as expected from ring-chain equi
librium polymerization theory. At small contour lengths, the rigidity-depen
dent ring closure probability provides a direct estimate of the persistence
length. These results re-emphasize the new possibilities offered by surfac
tant dimers (gemini) and oligomers in obtaining new morphologies in self-as
semblies.