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arXiv · 1510.03452

Microphase separation in two dimensional suspensions of self-propelled spheres and dumbbells

Clarion Tung·Joseph Harder·Chantal Valeriani·Angelo Cacciuto
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Abstract

We use numerical simulations to study the phase behavior of self-propelled spherical and dumbbellar particles interacting via micro-phase separation inducing potentials. Our results indicate that under the appropriate conditions, it is possible to drive the formation of two new active states; a spinning cluster crystal, i.e. an ordered mesoscopic phase having finite size spinning crystallites as lattice sites, and a fluid of living clusters, i.e. a two dimensional fluid where each "particle" is a finite size living cluster. We discuss the dynamics of these phases and suggest ways of extending their stability under a wide range of active forces.

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Clarion Tung, Joseph Harder, Chantal Valeriani, Angelo Cacciuto. 2015-10-12. Microphase separation in two dimensional suspensions of self-propelled spheres and dumbbells. https://doi.org/10.1039/c5sm02350e

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