Charge fluctuations and counterion condensation

A. W.C. Lau, D. B. Lukatsky, P. Pincus, S. A. Safran

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

60 Scopus citations

Abstract

We predict a condensation phenomenon in an overall neutral system, consisting of a single charged plate and its oppositely charged counterions. Based on the “two-fluid” model, in which the counterions are divided into a “free” and a “condensed” fraction, we argue that for high surface charge, fluctuations can lead to a phase transition in which a large fraction of counterions is condensed. Furthermore, we show that depending on the valence, the condensation is either a first-order or a smooth transition.

Original languageEnglish GB
Article number051502
Pages (from-to)7
Number of pages1
JournalPhysical Review E
Volume65
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jan 2002
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Statistical and Nonlinear Physics
  • Statistics and Probability
  • Condensed Matter Physics

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