Abstract
We derive a coordinate independent operator expression for the Tilting
Operator of molecular domains at the liquid-gas interface. The domains are
made up of phospholipidic molecules modeled as spherocylinders. The
molecules of the domain are oriented parallel to each other. The centers
of symmetry of the molecules form a lattice. The Tilting Operator keeps
track of the deformations suffered by this lattice as the domain molecules
are tilted relative to the normal to the interface. The results obtained
are important for dynamic calculations of inclination dependent collective
film characteristics, as in the simulation of surface density versus
surface pressure curves in a Langmuir film. The tilting operation can be
decomposed into three separate simple operations: A global rotation, a
local oblique realignment, and a global vertical translation.
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