Material witness: Colloids get active

Self-sustained non-equilibrium co-existence of fluid and solid states in a strongly coupled complex plasma system

A complex (dusty) plasma system is well known as a paradigmatic model for studying the kinetics of solid-liquid phase transitions in inactive condensed matter. At the same time, under certain conditions a complex plasma system can also display characteristics of an active medium with the micron-sized particles converting energy of the ambient environment into motility and thereby becoming active. We present a detailed analysis of the experimental complex plasmas system that shows evidence of a non-equilibrium stationary coexistence between a cold crystalline and a hot fluid state in the structure due to the conversion of plasma energy into the motion energy of microparticles in the central region of the system. The plasma mediated non-reciprocal interaction between the dust particles is the underlying mechanism for the enormous heating of the central subsystem, and it acts as a micro-scale energy source that keeps the central subsystem in the molten state. Accurate multiscale simulations of the system based on combined molecular dynamics and particle-in-cell approaches show that strong structural nonuniformity of the system under the action of electostatic trap makes development of instabilities a local process. We present both experimental tests conducted with a complex plasmas system in a DC glow discharge plasma and a detailed theoretical analysis.

Determination of the positions and orientations of concentrated rod-like colloids from 3D microscopy data

Confocal microscopy in combination with real-space particle tracking has proven to be a powerful tool in scientific fields such as soft matter physics, materials science and cell biology. However, 3D tracking of anisotropic particles in concentrated phases remains not as optimized compared to algorithms for spherical particles. To address this problem, we developed a new particle-fitting algorithm that can extract the positions and orientations of fluorescent rod-like particles from three dimensional confocal microscopy data stacks. The algorithm is tailored to work even when the fluorescent signals of the particles overlap considerably and a threshold method and subsequent clusters analysis alone do not suffice. We demonstrate that our algorithm correctly identifies all five coordinates of uniaxial particles in both a concentrated disordered phase and a liquid-crystalline smectic-B phase. Apart from confocal microscopy images, we also demonstrate that the algorithm can be used to identify nanorods in 3D electron tomography reconstructions. Lastly, we determined the accuracy of the algorithm using both simulated and experimental confocal microscopy data-stacks of diffusing silica rods in a dilute suspension. This novel particle-fitting algorithm allows for the study of structure and dynamics in both dilute and dense liquid-crystalline phases (such as nematic, smectic and crystalline phases) as well as the study of the glass transition of rod-like particles in three dimensions on the single particle level.

Symmetry-breaking magnetic fields create a vortex fluid that exhibits a negative viscosity, active wetting, and strong mixing

There are many areas of science and technology where being able to generate vigorous, noncontact flow would be desirable. We have discovered that three dimensional, time-dependent electric or magnetic fields having key symmetries can be used to generate controlled fluid motion by the continuous injection of energy. Unlike natural convection, this approach does not require a thermal gradient as an energy source, nor does it require gravity, so space applications are feasible. The result is a highly active material we call a vortex fluid. The homogeneous torque density of this fluid enables it to climb walls, induce ballistic droplet motion, and mix vigorously, even in such complex geometries as porous media. This vortex fluid can also exhibit a negative viscosity, which can immeasurably extend the control range of the "smart fluids" used in electro- and magnetorheological devices and can thus significantly increase their performance. Because the applied fields are uniform and modest in strength, vortex fluids of any scale can be created, making applications of any size, from directing microdroplet motion to controlling damping in magnetorheological dampers that protect bridges and buildings from earthquakes, feasible.