title: Clustering of low-valence particles: structure and kinetics.
abstract: We compute the structure and kinetics of two systems of low-valence particles with three or six freely oriented bonds in two dimensions. The structure of clusters formed by trivalent particles is complex with loops and holes, while hexavalent particles self-organize into regular and compact structures. We identify the elementary structures which compose the clusters of trivalent particles. At initial stages of clustering, the clusters of trivalent particles grow with a power-law time dependence. Yet at longer times fusion and fission of clusters equilibrates and clusters form a heterogeneous phase with polydispersed sizes. These results emphasize the role of valence in the kinetics and stability of finite-size clusters.
authors.affiliation: Institut de Biologie du Développement de Marseille, UMR7288 CNRS/Aix-Marseille Université, Campus de Luminy, 13288 Marseille cedex 9, France.
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Markova
authors.affiliation: University of Washington, 620 University Rd., Friday Harbor, Washington 98250, USA.
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Alberts
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Chicago, 5801 South Ellis Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA.
authors.forename: Edwin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Munro
authors.affiliation: Institut de Biologie du Développement de Marseille, UMR7288 CNRS/Aix-Marseille Université, Campus de Luminy, 13288 Marseille cedex 9, France.
authors.forename: Pierre-François
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Lenne
mesh_terms: D003102:Colloids; D003198:Computer Simulation; D007700:Kinetics; D008962:Models, Theoretical
chemical_list: D003102:Colloids