Casimir Effect in Fluids above the Isotropic-Lamellar Transition

Abstract

We study fluctuation-induced interaction in confined fluids above the isotropic-lamellar transition. At an ideal continuous transition, the disjoining pressure has the asymptotic form $Π(d\to\infty)\approx -C k_BT q_0^2/d$, where $d$ is the interwall distance, $q_0$ is the wavenumber of the scattering peak, and $C= 1/(4π)$ in the strong anchoring limit. The long-rangedness is enhanced due to continuous distribution of soft modes in the ${\bf q}$-space. An unconventionally strong Casimir force with a range of several lamella thicknesses is realistic above the transition. We also find an oscillatory force profile near a surface-induced transition.