Investigation of the dynamics of geometrically restricted soft matter systems with long-ranged interactions

• Applicant: Dr. Johannes Bleibel, since 4/2018
• Subject Area: Statistical Physics, Nonlinear Dynamics, Complex Systems, Soft and Fluid Matter, Biological Physics
• Term: from 2015 to 2019
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 265342721

We propose a systematic theoretical and experimental study of the dynamics of geometrically restricted soft matter systems with long-ranged repulsive and attractive interactions. As major system for investigation, we will use superparamagnetic colloidal particles trapped by gravity at a fluid interface. For such colloids with sizes above a tens of micrometers, the presence of a long-ranged capillary interaction among the particles, an analogue to screened Newtonian gravity in two dimensions, combined with repulsive dipole-dipole interactions induced by an external magnetic field, provides a new model system for the study of dynamics and structure formation in the presence of long-ranged attractions. Special focus will be on the low-dimensional setup, external geometric constraints of the system and their consequences on the dynamics. Additionally, hydrodynamic interactions are expected to exhibit special features in quasi two-dimensional systems, as the interplay between the two-dimensional layer of particles and the genuine, but geometrically restricted three-dimensional solvent is expected to differ significantly from genuinely two- or three-dimensional setups. The proposed project covers experimental and theoretical work on the same system and in close collaboration, resulting in additional mutual benefits and fruitful input for both, theory and experiment.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Cooperation Partners: Dr. Peter Keim; Dr. Patrick Pfleiderer
• Ehemaliger Antragsteller: Professor Dr. Georg Maret, until 4/2018