  The equilibrium properties of block copolymer micelles confined in polymer
thin films are investigated using self-consistent field theory. The theory is
based on a model system consisting of AB diblock copolymers and A homopolymers.
Two different methods, based on the radius of gyration tensor and the spherical
harmonics expansion, are used to characterize the micellar shape. The results
reveal that the morphology of micelles in thin films depends on the thickness
of the thin films and the selectivity of the confining surfaces. For spherical
(cylindrical) micelles, the spherical (cylindrical) symmetry is broken by the
presence of the one-dimensional confinement, whereas the top-down symmetry is
broken by the selectivity of the confining surfaces. Morphological transitions
from spherical or cylindrical micelles to cylinders or lamella are predicted
when the film thickness approaches the micellar size.
