Sliding Phases in XY-Models, Crystals, and Cationic Lipid-DNA Complexes
Soft Condensed Matter
2016-08-31 v1
Abstract
We predict the existence of a totally new class of phases in weakly coupled, three-dimensional stacks of two-dimensional (2D) XY-models. These ``sliding phases'' behave essentially like decoupled, independent 2D XY-models with precisely zero free energy cost associated with rotating spins in one layer relative to those in neighboring layers. As a result, the two-point spin correlation function decays algebraically with in-plane separation. Our results, which contradict past studies because we include higher-gradient couplings between layers, also apply to crystals and may explain recently observed behavior in cationic lipid-DNA complexes.
Cite
@article{arxiv.cond-mat/9904415,
title = {Sliding Phases in XY-Models, Crystals, and Cationic Lipid-DNA Complexes},
author = {C. S. O'Hern and T. C. Lubensky and J. Toner},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:cond-mat/9904415},
year = {2016}
}
Comments
4 pages of double column text in REVTEX format and 1 postscript figure