Search

Many fascinating phenomena such as large-scale collective flows, enhanced fluid mixing and pattern formation have been observed in so-called active fluids, which are composed of particles that can absorb energy and dissipate it into the fluid medium. For active particles immersed in liquids, fluid-mediated viscous stresses can play an important role on the emergence of collective behavior. Here, we experimentally investigate their role in the dynamics of self-assembling magnetically-driven colloidal particles which can rapidly form organized hexagonal structures. We find that viscous stresses reduce hexagonal ordering, generate smaller clusters, and significantly decrease the rate of cluster formation, all while holding the system at constant number density. Furthermore, we show that time and length scales of cluster formation depend on the Mason number (Mn), or ratio of viscous to magnetic forces, scaling as t / Mn and L / Mn^(1/2). Our results suggest that viscous stresses hinder collective behavior in a self-assembling colloidal system.

Many fascinating phenomena such as large-scale collective flows, enhanced fluid mixing and pattern formation have been observed in so-called active fluids, which are composed of particles that can absorb energy and dissipate it into the fluid medium. In order to investigate the role of hydrodynamic interactions in the collective behavior of an active fluid, we choose a model system: paramagnetic particles submerged in water and activated by an oscillating magnetic field. The magnetic field induces magnetic attractions among the paramagnetic particles, activating the particles, and injecting energy into the fluid. Over many cycles, the particles aggregate together and form clusters. In order to form clusters, however, the particles must overcome viscous drag. We investigate the relative roles of viscosity and magnetism. When the role of viscosity is important, the particles cannot form large clusters. But when the role of magnetism is important, the particles rapidly form organized, large clusters. Our results shown in this fluid dynamics video suggest that viscous stresses slow the clustering rate and decrease the size of clusters in a self-assembling colloidal system., Comment: videos included

Using a global equation of state, empirically derived by Luding, we accurately model the density profile of a two-dimensional hard sphere system with diameter D and mass m under gravity with a given temperature T [Physica A, 271, 192 (1999)]. We then compare our solutions to MD simulated data. From the density profile, we can then solve for the critical temperature T_c, which we define as the temperature at which the system begins to condensate. Then, if T is below T_c, there is some frozen portion of the system. We derive a formula for the number of frozen layers \mu_f, and compare our solution to the number of frozen layers in our simulated data., Comment: 22 pages, 7 figures, 1 table, latex file