Interactions between colloidal inclusions in two-dimensional smectic-C* films - art. no. 031702

We report an experimental study of colloidal inclusions in free-standing fi lms of smectic-C* liquid crystal. The inclusions are cholesteric droplets t hat form above the bulk smectic-C*-cholesteric transition temperature. Each droplet confined in a two-dimensional (2D) system, is accompanied by a top ological defect. The distortions of the in-plane orientational order of the smectic-C* film induce elastic interactions between the droplets. As in 3D water nematic emulsions, a short-range repulsion and a long-range dipolar attraction govern the stability of the inclusions and lead to their organiz ation in chainlike structures. Our results are in agreement with recent the oretical predictions.