Single-file diffusion of colloids in one-dimensional channels.
We study the diffusive behavior of colloidal particles which are confined to one-dimensional channels generated by scanning optical tweezers. At long times t, the mean-square displacement is found to scale as t(1/2), which is expected for systems where single-file diffusion occurs. In addition, we experimentally obtain the long-time, self-diffusive behavior from the short-time collective density fluctuations of the system as suggested by a recent analytical approach [Phys. Rev. Lett. 90, 180602 (2003)].
Lutz
Christoph
C
Physikalisches Institut, Universität Stuttgart, Pfaffenwaldring 57, 70550 Stuttgart, Germany.
Kollmann
Markus
M
Bechinger
Clemens
C