Mechanism of inclusion chaining in SmC* free-standing films

The self-assembly of colloidal inclusions has recently been shown in smectic C* freely suspended films. In such 2D systems, the organization of the inclusions is qualitatively explained by elastic interactions induced by the disruption of the orientational order in the SmC* host phase. The interaction between resulting inclusion-defect pairs exhibits a dipolar character. We have developed a simplified model representing every inclusion and its companion hyperbolic defect by (+1)- and (-1)-wedge disclination lines, respectively. A finite anchoring energy has been introduced to explain the coalescence of the thinnest inclusions. Our model enables us to explain the chaining of the thickest inclusions and confirms the inclusion size dependence on the stability of the chains.