Electrostatic correlation force of discretely charged membranes - art. no.041603

The total force between two like charged surfaces is investigated as a func tion of counterion concentration in aqueous solution and surfaces distance of separation. A smooth and a discrete density of surface charge sigma (s) lead to differences in the force distance curve at high sigma (s), which ar e negligible for low surface charge, The total force per unit area with div alent counterions is an oscillating function of sigma (s). At fixed surface s separation and region of attraction (increasing sigma (s)), there is a va riation in its strength that results from a competition between the ideal k inetic and ion-ion correlation force components as predicted from the aniso tropic hypernetted chain approximation.