R Prieler et al 2009 J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 21 464110 doi:10.1088/0953-8984/21/46/464110
R Prieler, J Hubert, D Li, B Verleye, R Haberkern and H Emmerich
Show affiliationsWe derive a generalized model for isotropic as well as anisotropic crystal lattice systems of arbitrary Poisson ratio within the framework of the continuum phase-field crystal (PFC) approach (Elder and Grant 2004 Phys. Rev. E 70 051606). To this end we extend the simplest PFC model defined by a free energy functional, which is based upon the Swift–Hohenberg model of pattern formation (Swift and Hohenberg 1993 Phys. Rev. A 15 851) to a conservative, anisotropic Langevin equation. By studying heterogeneous nucleation of ellipsoidal colloids at a wall, we demonstrate the capacity of our approach to contribute to the more precise understanding of condensed matter systems built up from non-spherical units at the atomic scale. In particular we address the question of how (a) the orientation of the ellipsoids as well as (b) the interaction potential with the wall determine the resulting contact angle.
Soft matter, liquids and polymers
Issue 46 (18 November 2009)
Received 7 May 2009, in final form 16 June 2009
Published 27 October 2009
R Prieler et al 2009 J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 21 464110
Miquel Trias and Alicia M Sintes 2008 Class. Quantum Grav. 25 184032
Patrick Dorey et al 2008 J. Phys. A: Math. Theor. 41 132001
S Burkardt et al 2008 J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 20 314006
M P A Branderhorst et al 2009 New J. Phys. 11 115010
S Franz et al 2008 J. Phys. A: Math. Theor. 41 324011
Lu Zhong-Lin et al 2009 Chinese Phys. Lett. 26 116102
Iwan Jensen J. Stat. Mech. (2004) P10008
V B Braginsky 1998 Phys. Scr. 1998 122
Jaume Haro and Emilio Elizalde 2008 J. Phys. A: Math. Theor. 41 372003