Influence of confinement on dynamical heterogeneities in dense colloidal samples

Kazem V. Edmond, Carolyn R. Nugent, and Eric R. Weeks
Phys. Rev. E 85, 041401 – Published 11 April 2012

Abstract

We study a dense colloidal suspension confined between two quasiparallel glass plates as a model system for a supercooled liquid in confined geometries. We directly observe the three-dimensional Brownian motion of the colloidal particles using laser scanning confocal microscopy. The particles form dense layers along the walls, but crystallization is avoided as we use a mixture of two particle sizes. A normally liquidlike sample, when confined, exhibits slower diffusive motion. Particle rearrangements are spatially heterogeneous, and the shapes of the rearranging regions are strongly influenced by the layering. These rearranging regions become more planar upon confinement. The wall-induced layers and changing character of the spatially heterogeneous dynamics appear strongly connected to the confinement-induced glassiness.

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  • Received 30 January 2012

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.85.041401

©2012 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Kazem V. Edmond*, Carolyn R. Nugent, and Eric R. Weeks

  • Physics Department, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA

  • *Present address: Center for Soft Matter Research, Dept. of Physics, New York University, New York, NY, USA.
  • Present address: Department of Earth and Space Sciences, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA.

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Issue

Vol. 85, Iss. 4 — April 2012

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