Active colloidal suspensions: Clustering and phase behavior

作者:Bialke Julian*; Speck Thomas; Loewen Hartmut
来源:Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids, 2015, 407: 367-375.
DOI:10.1016/j.jnoncrysol.2014.08.011

摘要

We review recent experimental, numerical, and analytical results on active suspensions of self-propelled colloidal beads moving in (quasi-)two dimensions. Active colloids form part of the larger theme of active matter, which is noted for the emergence of collective dynamic phenomena away from thermal equilibrium. Both in experiments and computer simulations, a separation into dense aggregates, i.e., clusters, and a dilute gas phase has been reported even when attractive interactions and an alignment mechanism are absent. Here, we describe three experimental setups, discuss the different propelling mechanisms, and summarize the evidence for phase separation. We then compare experimental observations with numerical studies based on a minimal model of colloidal swimmers. Finally, we review a mean-field approach derived from first principles, which provides a theoretical framework for the density instability causing the phase separation in active colloids.

  • 出版日期2015-1-1