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Controlling the dynamics of active colloidal liquid crystals by external fields

Subject Area Statistical Physics, Nonlinear Dynamics, Complex Systems, Soft and Fluid Matter, Biological Physics
Term from 2016 to 2024
Project identifier Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 283183152
 
Final Report Year 2025

Final Report Abstract

This project focused on the behavior of active colloidal particles, i.e., motile microparticles such as self-propelled microorganisms or microrobots, and the influence of external fields on them. It addressed both the behavior of individual particles as well as the properties of systems of many interacting particles. The latter constitute active materials such as active colloidal liquid crystals. There was a particular focus on sound-propelled microparticles. Active particles with orientation-dependent motility and inertia as well as mixtures of different types of particles were also taken into account. The project developed very well. It led to many new results that went significantly beyond the original objectives of the project. For example, it led to many new results on the fundamental properties of sound-propelled microparticles and to the development of a harmless and medically relevant method that allows to navigate sound-propelled microparticles collectively to a target (e.g., for targeted drug delivery). Other results regarding active-matter systems are the derivation of many new field theories, the observation of new phenomena and effects, a new ansatz for programmable density patterns, a generalized barometric law, and full pair-distribution functions with spatial and orientational degrees of freedom. The project also involved the investigation of active crystals and colloidal liquid crystals, the development of refractive light-propelled microparticles as a new type of artificial active microparticles, and the further development of important methods of statistical physics. Furthermore, the project contributed new results to other fields including hydrodynamics, biophysics, epidemiology, quantum physics, and cosmology. This project resulted in 47 publications, including 4 review articles and 1 patent application. Among the publications are 7 articles published in high-impact journals. The publications are frequently cited and resulted in a large press coverage. The project also led to several awards and further grants.

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