(1) Jožef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia;(2) Department of Physics, University of Ljubljana, Jadranska 19, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Abstract:
We study the structure of a free-standing smectic-A film around a micron-size polystyrene colloid adsorbed onto the film.
We find that a colloid or a cluster of colloids is surrounded by an optically distinct and radially decorated meniscus ending
with a sharp edge. The observed strong and finite-range attraction between the adsorbed colloids is driven by the fusion of
menisci. We interpret the structure of the smectic meniscus in terms of a model dominated by the surface free energy and we
argue that the characteristic appearance of the meniscus is due to layer undulations.