316 research outputs found
Introduction to colloidal dispersions in external fields
Progress in the research area of colloidal dispersions in external fields
within the last years is reviewed. Colloidal dispersions play a pivotal role as
model systems for phase transitions in classical statistical mechanics. In
recent years the leading role of colloids to realize model systems has become
evident not only for equilibrium situations but also far away from equilibrium.
By using external fields (such as shear flow, electric, magnetic or
laseroptical fields as well as confinement), a colloidal suspension can be
brought into nonequilibrium in a controlled way. Various kinds of equilibrium
and nonequilibrium phenomena explored by colloidal dispersions are described
providing also a guide and summary to this special issue. Particular emphasis
is put on the comparison of real-space experiments, computer simulations and
statistical theories.Comment: 11 pages, 2 figures, Eur. Phys. J. Special Topics (accepted
Active Colloidal Molecules
Like ordinary molecules are composed of atoms, colloidal molecules consist of
several species of colloidal particles tightly bound together. If one of these
components is self-propelled or swimming, novel "active colloidal molecules"
emerge. Active colloidal molecules exist on various levels such as
"homonuclear", "heteronuclear" and "polymeric" and possess a dynamical function
moving as propellers, spinners or rotors. Self-assembly of such active
complexes has been studied a lot recently and this perspective article
summarizes recent progress and gives an outlook to future developments in the
rapidly expanding field of active colloidal molecules
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