Devil's staircase-type faceting of a cubic lyotropic liquid crystal

Authors
Pieranski, P Sotta, P Rohe, D Imperor-Clerc, M
Citation
P. Pieranski et al., Devil's staircase-type faceting of a cubic lyotropic liquid crystal, PHYS REV L, 84(11), 2000, pp. 2409-2412
Citations number
24
Categorie Soggetti
Physics
Journal title
PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS
ISSN journal
00319007 → ACNP
Volume
84
Issue
11
Year of publication
2000
Pages
2409 - 2412
Database
ISI
SICI code
0031-9007(20000313)84:11<2409:DSFOAC>2.0.ZU;2-H
Abstract
The faceting of monocrystals of the lyotropic cubic liquid crystals in equi librium with a humid atmosphere is observed. Experiments reveal the presenc e of more than 60 different types of facets on the surface of a spherical c rystal of radius R = I mm. The devil's staircase type of faceting has been predicted theoretically when the interaction between steps on the crystal s urface is repulsive.