Spherulite phase induction from positive Gaussian curvature in lyotropic lamellar liquid crystals

The equilibrium properties of spherulite assemblies in lyotropic lamellar phases are studied within both elastic and statistical models. Following previous models, the spherulites are assumed to be stabilized by their positive Gaussian curvature. Our model predicts that the spherulites should adopt a regular crystalline piling if their core energy E~ is much larger than k~ T, or a liquid-like piling with large radius fluctuations if E~ k~ T. The spherulites develop an