Collective Diffusion of Colloidal Particles in a Liquid Crystal

Abstract

The theory of collective diffusion effects in a system of colloidal particles in a liquid crystal is proposed. The specifics of diffusion which can be observed experimentally are described. The dependence of the diffusion coefficient on the temperature and particle density is found. It is shown that collective diffusion in a system of colloidal particles in a liquid crystal arises from the elastic distortion of the director field generating the interparticle interaction. The behavior of such diffusion is found to be nontrivial.