We report the direct visualization at the scale of single particles of mass transport between smectic layers, also called permeation, in a suspension of rod-like viruses. Self-diffusion takes place preferentially in the direction normal to the smectic layers, and occurs by quasi-quantized steps of one rod length. The diffusion rate corresponds with the rate calculated from the diffusion in the nematic state with a lamellar periodic ordering potential that is obtained experimentally.
@article{arxiv.0710.5889,
title = {Self-diffusion of Rod-like Viruses Through Smectic Layer},
author = {M. Paul Lettinga and Eric Grelet},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:0710.5889},
year = {2009}
}
Comments
latex, 4 pages, 4 figures, accepted in Phys. Rev. Lett