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Stripes, Clusters, and Nonequilibrium Ordering for Bidisperse Colloids with Repulsive Interactions

C. Reichhardt·C. J. Olson Reichhardt
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Abstract

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.

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C. Reichhardt, C. J. Olson Reichhardt. 2007-03-01. Stripes, Clusters, and Nonequilibrium Ordering for Bidisperse Colloids with Repulsive Interactions. https://doi.org/10.1103/physreve.75.040402

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