Experimental realization of a model glass former in 2D

Eur Phys J E Soft Matter. 2005 Nov;18(3):287-93. doi: 10.1140/epje/e2005-00034-9. Epub 2005 Oct 18.

Abstract

We have studied binary two-dimensional (2D) mixtures of superparamagnetic colloidal particles interacting through magnetic dipole moments, which were induced by an external magnetic field B. By tuning B the effective system temperature could be widely adjusted. Time-dependent particle coordinates measured by video-microscopy provide radial pair-distribution functions, mean-square displacements as well as evidence for heterogeneous dynamics. Characteristic features of 3D glass formers are observed experimentally in 2D for the first time.