Light-driven oscillations of entangled nematic colloidal chains

Eur Phys J E Soft Matter. 2010 Dec;33(4):291-6. doi: 10.1140/epje/i2010-10671-6. Epub 2010 Nov 7.

Abstract

Laser tweezers have been used to drive the oscillations of a chain of entangled colloidal particles in the nematic liquid crystal 5CB. The amplitude and phase of light-driven oscillations have been determined for the motion of individual colloidal particles. The collective motion of 4.8μm silica particles is highly damped for a driving frequency above 0.5Hz. The results were compared to an effective bead-spring model, where the motion of elastically coupled particles is hindered by viscous damping and hydrodynamic coupling. Qualitative agreement between theory and experiment was obtained.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Colloids / chemistry
  • Colloids / radiation effects*
  • Elasticity
  • Hydrodynamics
  • Light*
  • Liquid Crystals / chemistry
  • Liquid Crystals / radiation effects*
  • Models, Chemical
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Silicon Dioxide / chemistry
  • Viscosity

Substances

  • Colloids
  • Silicon Dioxide