Screened hydrodynamic interaction in a narrow channel.
We study experimentally and theoretically the hydrodynamic coupling between Brownian colloidal particles diffusing along a linear channel. The quasi-one-dimensional confinement, unlike other constrained geometries, leads to a sharply screened interaction. Consequently, particles move in concert only when their mutual distance is smaller than the channel width, and two-body interactions remain dominant up to high particle densities. The coupling in a cylindrical channel is predicted to reverse sign at a certain distance, yet this unusual effect is too small to be currently detectable.
Cui
Bianxiao
B
The James Franck Institute, Department of Chemistry, and CARS, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA.
Diamant
Haim
H
Lin
Binhua
B
D003102:Colloids / Q000737:chemistry*; D004058:Diffusion; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000737:chemistry*; D008962:Models, Theoretical
D003102:Colloids; D007473:Ion Channels