Measurement theory of a density profile of small colloids around a large colloid: Superposition of the radial distribution functions

Abstract

We propose a transform theory for calculating a density profile of small colloids around a large colloid from a force curve between the two-large colloids. In the colloid solution, there are many small colloids and two or several large colloids. The force curve between the two-large colloids can be measured by laser tweezers. In this letter, the transform theory is derived in detail, where a superposition approximation of the radial distributions of the density profiles and rigid-body approximation are introduced. In our opinion, if the experimental condition is satisfied, the transform theory can be used not only for the laser tweezers, but also for surface force apparatus and colloid probe atomic force microscopy. Furthermore, the transform theory is to calculate a density profile of micelles around a large spherical surface.