Nematic Phase Emergence in Solutions of Similarly Charged Rodlike Polyelectrolytes

We extend an approximate theory in order to examine the properties of the one-component plasma (OCP) of similarly charged rodlike polyelectrolytes system from the weak- to the strong-coupling regimes. In addition, Monte Carlo simulations are performed in order to verify the approximate theory. The electrostatic interactions are decomposed into short-and long-range components treated within different approximations. In addition to the Coulomb interactions present within the system, the excluded volume interactions between the charged rods are included in our analysis within a second order virial reference system. By theory and numerical simulation, we find that the isotropic phase becomes unstable with reference to the orientational ordering performed by both electrostatic and excluded volume interactions. Good agreement between theory and numerical simulation is obtained for the conditions investigated.