2010/03/31 by Kazem V. Edmond, C. R. Nugent, Carolyn R. Nugent +1 · 1 citation
Chemistry · Environmental Science · Materials Science · Physics and Astronomy · #Brownian dynamics #Brownian motion #Chemical physics #Chemistry #Colloid #Colloidal particle #Crystallization #Ecosystem dynamics and resilience #Geology #Layering #Material Dynamics and Properties #Materials science #Particle (ecology) #Physics #Planar #Supercooling #Suspension (topology) #Thermodynamics #cond-mat.mtrl-sci #cond-mat.soft
paper · pdf · doi:10.1103/physreve.85.041401
published as Phys. Rev. E 85, 041401 (2012) · revised version describes particle-wall interactions in more detail, among other changes
arxiv created 2012/01/30 · openalex publication_date 2012/04/11 · arxiv updated 2012/06/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
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.