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arXiv · 0802.2235

Colloidal crystal growth at externally imposed nucleation clusters

Sven van Teeffelen·Christos N. Likos·Hartmut Löwen
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Abstract

We study the conditions under which and how an imposed cluster of fixed colloidal particles at prescribed positions triggers crystal nucleation from a metastable colloidal fluid. Dynamical density functional theory of freezing and Brownian dynamics simulations are applied to a two-dimensional colloidal system with dipolar interactions. The externally imposed nucleation clusters involve colloidal particles either on a rhombic lattice or along two linear arrays separated by a gap. Crystal growth occurs after the peaks of the nucleation cluster have first relaxed to a cutout of the stable bulk crystal.

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Sven van Teeffelen, Christos N. Likos, Hartmut Löwen. 2008-02-15. Colloidal crystal growth at externally imposed nucleation clusters. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.100.108302

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