Crystalline Order on Catenoidal Capillary Bridges

TL;DR

This paper investigates how crystalline particles arrange on catenoidal capillary bridges with negative Gaussian curvature, identifying defect thresholds, optimal defect positions, and transitions from isolated disclinations to scars as parameters change.

Contribution

It introduces a detailed analysis of defect structures on catenoidal surfaces, including thresholds for disclination formation and defect transition mechanisms.

Findings

Threshold aspect ratio for disclination appearance identified

Optimal positions for dislocations determined

Transition from disclinations to scars analyzed

Abstract

We study the defect structure of crystalline particle arrays on negative Gaussian curvature capillary bridges with vanishing mean curvature (catenoids). The threshold aspect ratio for the appearance of isolated disclinations is found and the optimal positions for dislocations determined. We also discuss the transition from isolated disclinations to scars as particle number and aspect ratio are varied.