Sliding Phases in <span class="aps-inline-formula"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><mi mathvariant="italic">XY</mi></math></span> Models, Crystals, and Cationic Lipid-DNA Complexes

C. S. O'Hern; T. C. Lubensky; J. Toner

doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.83.2745

Sliding Phases in $XY$ Models, Crystals, and Cationic Lipid-DNA Complexes

C. S. O'Hern, T. C. Lubensky, and J. Toner

Phys. Rev. Lett. 83, 2745 – Published 4 October 1999

Abstract

We predict the existence of a new class of phases in weakly coupled, three-dimensional stacks of two-dimensional (2D) $XY$ models. These “sliding phases” behave like decoupled, independent 2D $XY$ models with zero free-energy cost for macroscopic relative rotation of spins in different layers and algebraic decay of two-point spin correlation functions with in-plane separation. Our results, which contradict past studies because we include higher-gradient couplings between layers, also apply to crystals and may explain recently observed behavior in cationic lipid-DNA complexes.

Received 29 April 1999

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.83.2745

Authors & Affiliations

C. S. O'Hern¹, T. C. Lubensky¹, and J. Toner²

¹Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104-6396
²Institute for Theoretical Science, Materials Science Institute, and Department of Physics, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon 97403