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Type of Document	Dissertation
Author	Libal, Andras J
Author's Email Address	andras.libal@gmail.com
URN	etd-07202007-154234
Title	Simulation Studies of Nonequilibrium Collective Phenomena in Colloids
Degree	Doctor of Philosophy
Department	Physics
Advisory Committee	Advisor Name Title Bruce Bunker Committee Member Grant J. Mathews Committee Member Janko Boldizsar Committee Member Kathie Newman Committee Member
Keywords	point defects in a colloidal crystal colloidal spin ice collective phenomena in colloids colloids on optical substrates colloids enhancing colloidal mixing
Date of Defense	2007-07-16
Availability	unrestricted
Abstract We use Brownian dynamics simulations of colloidal systems to explore new nonequilibrium collective effects. Colloids driven over a symmetric flashing periodic substrate undergo a ratcheting behavior which can be used to fractionate different particle species. The addition of nondriven colloids can increase the drift velocity of the driven colloids due to collective interactions. We show that colloids in optical trap lattices can be used to create an artificial spin ice system which shows a rich variety of ice rule and other orderings. Our study of an interstitial point defect in a two-dimensional colloidal crystal shows that it is more mobile than a vacancy defect due to the more two-dimensional character of the diffusion. We also demonstrate that a bidisperse, phase segregated colloid system can be mixed efficiently in the absence of temperature by driving the colloids over a random substrate and inducing plastic flow.
Files	Filename       Size       Approximate Download Time (Hours:Minutes:Seconds)     28.8 Modem   56K Modem   ISDN (64 Kb)   ISDN (128 Kb)   Higher-speed Access    LibalA072007.pdf 1.96 Mb 00:09:05 00:04:40 00:04:05 00:02:02 00:00:10