Observation of condensed phases of quasiplanar core-softened colloids.
We experimentally study the condensed phases of repelling core-softened spheres in two dimensions. The dipolar pair repulsion between superparamagnetic spheres trapped in a thin cell is induced by a transverse magnetic field and softened by suitably adjusting the cell thickness. We scan a broad density range and we materialize a large part of the theoretically predicted phases in systems of core-softened particles, including expanded and close-packed hexagonal, square, chainlike, stripe or labyrinthine, and honeycomb phase. Further insight into their structure is provided by Monte Carlo simulations.
Osterman
N
N
Department of Physics, University of Ljubljana, Jadranska 19, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Babic
D
D
Poberaj
I
I
Dobnikar
J
J
Ziherl
P
P
D003102:Colloids / Q000737:chemistry*; D008280:Magnetics; D008956:Models, Chemical
D003102:Colloids