Publication
Title
Structural transitions and long-time self-diffusion of interacting colloids confined by a parabolic potential
Author
Abstract
We report on the ordering and dynamics of interacting colloidal particles confined by a parabolic potential. By means of Brownian dynamics simulations, we find that by varying the magnitude of the trap stiffness, it is possible to control the dimension of the system and, thus, explore both the structural transitions and the long-time self-diffusion coefficient as a function of the degree of confinement. We particularly study the structural ordering in the directions perpendicular and parallel to the confinement. Further analysis of the local distribution of the first-neighbors layer allows us to identify the different structural phases induced by the parabolic potential. These results are summarized in a structural state diagram that describes the way in which the colloidal suspension undergoes a structural re-ordering while increasing the confinement. To fully understand the particle dynamics, we take into account hydrodynamic interactions between colloids; the parabolic potential constricts the available space for the colloids, but it does not act on the solvent. Our findings show a non-linear behavior of the long-time self-diffusion coefficient that is associated to the structural transitions induced by the external field. (C) 2015 AIP Publishing LLC.
Language
English
Source (journal)
The journal of chemical physics. - New York, N.Y.
Publication
New York, N.Y. : 2015
ISSN
0021-9606
DOI
10.1063/1.4905215
Volume/pages
142 :2 (2015) , 14 p.
Article Reference
024902
ISI
000348129700053
Pubmed ID
25591382
Medium
E-only publicatie
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 13.03.2015
Last edited 09.10.2023
To cite this reference