Lane reduction in driven 2d-colloidal systems through microchannels
Abstract
The transport behavior of a system of gravitationally driven colloidal particles is investigated. The particle interactions are determined by the superparamagnetic behavior of the particles. They can thus be arranged in a crystalline order by application of an external magnetic field. Therefore the motion of the particles through a narrow channel occurs in well-defined lanes. The arrangement of the particles is perturbed by diffusion and the motion induced by gravity. Due to these combined influences a density gradient forms along the direction of motion of the particles. A reconfiguration of the crystal is observed leading to a reduction of the number of lanes. In the course of the lane reduction transition a local melting of the quasi-crystalline phase to a disordered phase and a subsequent crystallization along the motion of the particles is observed. This transition is characterized experimentally and using Brownian dynamics (BD) simulations.
Cite
@article{arxiv.cond-mat/0606352,
title = {Lane reduction in driven 2d-colloidal systems through microchannels},
author = {M. Köppl and P. Henseler and A. Erbe and P. Nielaba and P. Leiderer},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:cond-mat/0606352},
year = {2009}
}
Comments
4 pages, 4 figures