Stripes, clusters, and nonequilibrium ordering for bidisperse colloids with repulsive interactions.
We show that two-dimensional bidisperse assemblies of colloids with strictly repulsive interactions exhibit stripe, cluster, and partially crystallized states when driven over a quenched random substrate. The nonequilibrium states on a substrate are significantly more ordered than equilibrium states both with and without substrates. A minimum substrate strength is necessary to induce the nonequilibrium pattern formation. Our results suggest that a combination of driving and quenched disorder offers a new approach to controlling pattern formation in colloid mixtures.
Reichhardt
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Theoretical Division and Center for Nonlinear Studies, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87545, USA.
Reichhardt
C J Olson
CJ