Page Content
There is no English translation for this web page.
Project B3: Shear-induced instabilities and structure formation in colloidal nano-rods.
In the present project we plan
to investigate the behavior of sheared rod-like
particles via a
combination of our dynamic equations and a systematic bifurcation
analysis using continuation software AUTO. As a starting point we
aim to better
understand the nature of and the transition into
the bistable states appearing in
the non-equilibrium phase
diagrams of homogeneous sheared systems. In particular,
we are
interested in the existence of hysteresis effects resembling those
encountered
in equilibrium first-order phase transitions. We
will then proceed towards spatially
inhomogeneous (e.g.,
confined) systems, which are, so far, poorly understood. We
focus on the occurrence of spatio-temporal patterns such as
traveling interfaces.
Indeed, preliminary investigations of the
dynamics resulting from the full GLdG
functional have already
indicated the possibility of novel behavior such as time-
dependent orientational defect structures. In a later stage of the
project we will
consider even more complex situations such as
shear rates with a stochastic contri-
bution (to model, e.g.,
rough surfaces), and systems with more dynamic variables
(such
as polar nano-rods). By combining the mesoscopic dynamic equations
with the
coherent structure approach we hope not only to
identify interesting parameter ranges,
but also to predict new
non-equilibrium phenomena in sheared anisotropic systems.
Project leaders: Prof.Dr. S. Klapp [1], Prof.Dr. H.
Engel [2], Prof.Dr. H. Stark
[3]
e_ag_klapp/parameter/en/font6/minhilfe/
rameter/en/font6/minhilfe/
e_ag_stark/parameter/en/font6/minhilfe/