Aggregation of self-propelled colloidal rods near confining walls
Abstract
The nonequilibrium collective behavior of self-propelled colloidal rods in a confining channel is studied using Brownian dynamics simulations and dynamical density functional theory. We observe an aggregation process in which rods self-organize into transiently jammed clusters at the channel walls. In the early stage of the process, fast-growing hedgehoglike clusters are formed which are largely immobile. At later stages, most of these clusters dissolve and mobilize into nematized aggregates sliding past the walls.
- Publication:
-
Physical Review E
- Pub Date:
- September 2008
- DOI:
- 10.1103/PhysRevE.78.031409
- arXiv:
- arXiv:0809.0633
- Bibcode:
- 2008PhRvE..78c1409W
- Keywords:
-
- 82.70.Dd;
- 05.40.-a;
- 61.20.Lc;
- 61.30.-v;
- Colloids;
- Fluctuation phenomena random processes noise and Brownian motion;
- Time-dependent properties;
- relaxation;
- Liquid crystals;
- Condensed Matter - Soft Condensed Matter;
- Condensed Matter - Statistical Mechanics
- E-Print:
- 5 pages, 4 figures