Energy transfer between colloids via critical interactions

We report the observation of a temperature-controlled synchronization of two Brownian-particles in a binary mixture close to the critical point of the demixing transition. The two beads are trapped by two optical tweezers whose distance is periodically modulated. We notice that the motion synchronization of the two beads appears when the critical temperature is approached. In contrast, when the fluid is far from its critical temperature, the displacements of the two beads are uncorrelated. Small changes in temperature can radically change the global dynamics of the system. We show that the synchronisation is induced by the critical Casimir forces. Finally, we present the measure of the energy transfers inside the system produced by the critical interaction.Comment: 8 pages, 7 figure

Field-control, phase-transitions, and life's emergence

Instances of critical-like characteristics in living systems at each organizational level as well as the spontaneous emergence of computation (Langton), indicate the relevance of self-organized criticality (SOC). But extrapolating complex bio-systems to life's origins, brings up a paradox: how could simple organics--lacking the 'soft matter' response properties of today's bio-molecules--have dissipated energy from primordial reactions in a controlled manner for their 'ordering'? Nevertheless, a causal link of life's macroscopic irreversible dynamics to the microscopic reversible laws of statistical mechanics is indicated via the 'functional-takeover' of a soft magnetic scaffold by organics (c.f. Cairns-Smith's 'crystal-scaffold'). A field-controlled structure offers a mechanism for bootstrapping--bottom-up assembly with top-down control: its super-paramagnetic components obey reversible dynamics, but its dissipation of H-field energy for aggregation breaks time-reversal symmetry. The responsive adjustments of the controlled (host) mineral system to environmental changes would bring about mutual coupling between random organic sets supported by it; here the generation of long-range correlations within organic (guest) networks could include SOC-like mechanisms. And, such cooperative adjustments enable the selection of the functional configuration by altering the inorganic network's capacity to assist a spontaneous process. A non-equilibrium dynamics could now drive the kinetically-oriented system towards a series of phase-transitions with appropriate organic replacements 'taking-over' its functions.Comment: 54 pages, pdf fil

Deconstructing the glass transition through critical experiments on colloids

The glass transition is the most enduring grand-challenge problem in contemporary condensed matter physics. Here, we review the contribution of colloid experiments to our understanding of this problem. First, we briefly outline the success of colloidal systems in yielding microscopic insights into a wide range of condensed matter phenomena. In the context of the glass transition, we demonstrate their utility in revealing the nature of spatial and temporal dynamical heterogeneity. We then discuss the evidence from colloid experiments in favor of various theories of glass formation that has accumulated over the last two decades. In the next section, we expound on the recent paradigm shift in colloid experiments from an exploratory approach to a critical one aimed at distinguishing between predictions of competing frameworks. We demonstrate how this critical approach is aided by the discovery of novel dynamical crossovers within the range accessible to colloid experiments. We also highlight the impact of alternate routes to glass formation such as random pinning, trajectory space phase transitions and replica coupling on current and future research on the glass transition. We conclude our review by listing some key open challenges in glass physics such as the comparison of growing static lengthscales and the preparation of ultrastable glasses, that can be addressed using colloid experiments.Comment: 137 pages, 45 figure

Collective behavior of colloids due to critical Casimir interactions

If colloidal solute particles are suspended in a solvent close to its critical point, they act as cavities in a fluctuating medium and thereby restrict and modify the fluctuation spectrum in a way which depends on their relative configuration. As a result effective, so-called critical Casimir forces (CCFs) emerge between the colloids. The range and the amplitude of CCFs depend sensitively on the temperature and the composition of the solvent as well as on the boundary conditions of the order parameter of the solvent at the particle surfaces. These remarkable, moreover universal features of the CCFs provide the possibility for an active control over the assembly of colloids. This has triggered a recent surge of experimental and theoretical interest in these phenomena. We present an overview of current research activities in this area. Various experiments demonstrate the occurrence of thermally reversible self-assembly or aggregation or even equilibrium phase transitions of colloids in the mixed phase below the lower consolute points of binary solvents. We discuss the status of the theoretical description of these phenomena, in particular the validity of a description in terms of effective, one-component colloidal systems and the necessity of a full treatment of a ternary solvent-colloid mixture. We suggest perspectives on the directions towards which future research in this field might develop.Comment: review, 88 pages, 19 figure

Controlling the interfacial and bulk concentrations of spontaneously charged colloids in non-polar media

Stabilization and dispersion of electrical charge by colloids in non-polar media, such as nano-particles or inverse micelles, is significant for a variety of chemical and technological applications, ranging from drug delivery to e-ink. Many applications require knowledge about concentrations near the solid|liquid interface and the bulk, particularly in media where colloids exhibit spontaneous charging properties. By modification of the mean field equations to include the finite size effects that are typical in concentrated electrolytes along with disproportionation kinetics, and by considering high potentials, it is possible to evaluate the width of the condensed double layers near planar electrodes and the bulk concentrations of colloids at steady state. These quantities also provide an estimate of the minimum initial colloid concentration that is required to support electroneutrality in the dispersion bulk, and thus provide insights into the quasi-steady state currents that have been observed in inverse micellar media.Comment: 13 pages, 5 figure