Equilibrium Phase Behavior of a Continuous-Space Microphase Former

TL;DR

This paper investigates the equilibrium phase behavior of a microphase-forming system with competing interactions using Monte Carlo simulations, revealing complex dynamics and aligning with theoretical models.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed simulation-based analysis of a microscopic microphase former's equilibrium phases, connecting results with Landau theory.

Findings

Ordered phases agree qualitatively with Landau-type free energy models

Reveals complex interplay between micelle, gel, and microphase formation

Highlights the importance of dynamical processes in phase behavior

Abstract

Periodic microphases universally emerge in systems for which short-range inter-particle attraction is frustrated by long-range repulsion. The morphological richness of these phases makes them desirable material targets, but our relatively coarse understanding of even simple models limits our grasp of their assembly. We report here the solution of the equilibrium phase behavior of a microscopic microphase former through specialized Monte Carlo simulations. The results for the ordered regime qualitatively agree with a Landau-type free energy description and highlight the nontrivial dynamical interplay between micelle, gel and microphase formation.