Numéro
J. Phys. II France
Volume 2, Numéro 3, March 1992
Page(s) 371 - 382
DOI https://doi.org/10.1051/jp2:1992133
DOI: 10.1051/jp2:1992133
J. Phys. II France 2 (1992) 371-382

Orientational order and vesicle shape

T.C. Lubensky1, 2 and Jacques Prost3

1  Department of Physics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, U.S.A.
2  Corporate Research Science Laboratories, Exxon Research and Engineering Co., Annandale, New Jersey 08801, U.S.A.
3  Groupe de Physico-Chimie Theorique, ESPCI, 10 Rue Vauquelin, 75231 Paris Cedex 05, France

(Received 16 September 1991, accepted 4 December 1991)

Abstract
In a membrane with in plane orientational order, the topology determines the total strength of the disclinations and thus controls the total elastic energy. Making use of this remark we discuss the relative stability of spherical vesicles, hollow cylindrical tubules (without caps), disks and tori composed of smectic-C, hexatic or " n-atic" membranes.

PACS
61.30 - 62.90 - 82.70D

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