Stretching induced disk-to-ribbon transition of chiral colloidal membranes

ORAL

Abstract

Colloidal membranes are fluid monolayers consisting of rod-like virus particles held together by the depletion interaction. When optical tweezers are used to apply a diametric stretching force, these disks transform into twisted ribbons. We measure the force and pitch as functions of membrane extension and identify three distinct regimes of twisting. Assuming that the bending stiffness of the membrane is large, we also calculate the shape of the membrane as it deforms using a purely geometric theory that effectively incorporates liquid crystal degrees of freedom.

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Presenters

  • Leroy Jia

    Brown University

Authors

  • Leroy Jia

    Brown University

  • Andrew J Balchunas

    Brandeis University

  • Mark J Zakhary

    Brandeis University

  • Zvonimir Dogic

    Physics, University of California, Santa Barbara, UC Santa Barbara, Physics, University of California Santa Barbara, University of California, Santa Barbara, UCSB, Department of Physics, University of California at Santa Barbara

  • Robert Alan Pelcovits

    Brown University, Department of Physics and School of Engineering, Brown University

  • Thomas Powers

    Brown University, School of Engineering and Department of Physics, Brown University, Department of Physics and School of Engineering, Brown University