Interparticle force between like-charged colloidal systems: a numerical study

We investigate numerically the interparticle force between like-charged colloidal systems confined by a cylinder. The interactions between colloidal particles are repulsive with smaller electrostatic coupling. On the contrary, the attractive interaction dominates with larger electrostatic coupling. These results clarify that the fluctuation effect beyond the Poisson-Boltzmann equation plays an important role, and the strength of the electrostatic coupling in an aqueous solution is an essential parameter to determine the effective potential between like-charged colloidal particles. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.