  Computationally, low-resolution coarse-grained models provide the most viable
means for simulating the large length and time scales associated with
mesoscopic phenomena. Moreover, since lyotropic phases in solution may contain
high solvent to amphiphile ratio, implicit solvent models are appropriate for
many purposes. By modifying the well-known Gay-Berne potential with an imposed
uni-directionality and a longer range, we have come to a simple single-site
model amphiphile that can rapidly self-assemble to give diverse lyotropic
phases without the explicit incorporation of solvent particles. The model
represents a tuneable packing parameter that manifests in the spontaneous
curvature of amphiphile aggregates. Apart from large scale simulations (e.g.
the study of self-assembly, amphiphile mixing, domain formation etc.) this
novel, non-specific model may be useful for suggestive pilot projects with
modest computational resources. No such self-assembling, single-site amphiphile
model has been reported previously in the literature to the best of our
knowledge.
