Modulated phases and structural arrest in colloidal systems with competing interactions

We review some recent results relevant to colloidal systems with competing interactions. In particular we report some findings concerning the pattern formation phenomena obtained in a phi(4) theory. Some of the general features are also found in an atomistic model by means of a thermodynamic approach and molecular dynamics simulations. Finally this model is shown to exhibit a structural arrest in a disordered gel-like state, once the ordered state is avoided.