Phase behaviour of polarizable colloidal hard rods in an external electric field: A simulation study

Abstract

We present a double-charge model for the interaction between parallel polarizable hard spherocylinders subject to an external electric field. Using Monte Carlo simulations and free-energy calculations, we predict the phase behaviour for this model as a function of the density and electric field strength, at a fixed length-to-diameter ratio L/D = 5. The resulting phase diagram contains, in addition to the well-known nematic, smectic A, ABC crystal, and columnar phases, a smectic C phase, and a low temperature crystal X phase. We also find a string fluid at low densities and field strengths, resembling results found for dipolar spheres.