Simulation of disk- and band-like voids in dusty plasma systems

Abstract

The minimum-energy configurations of systems of multispecies charged grains of different mass and charge with an interaction potential including long-range repulsive as well as short-range attractive components are studied by molecular dynamics simulation. The grains are also subject to a radial drag force and a quadratic confining potential. It is found that central as well as band-like void regions separating grains of different species can exist as well as coexist, depending on the species parameters. The results are consistent with the horizontal cross-sections of the structures found in a recent experiment on self-organization of chemically synthesizing grains ͓Huang et al.

Self-Organization of Highly Symmetric Nanoassemblies: A Matter of Competition

“…In order to understand the connection between structure and properties of these materials, the combination of TEM and theoretical calculations is very powerful. − However, it is important to realize that TEM images only correspond to a two-dimensional (2D) projection of a three-dimensional (3D) object. In order to gain the necessary structural information concerning the 3D nanoassemblies, 3D TEM, so-called electron tomography, has to be performed. − Recently, this technique has proven its power in the investigation of 3D nanoassemblies, especially when quantitative data, such as particle diameters or positions, are required. , 2D self-assembled systems have been theoretically studied in depth during the past decade, − and the transition between 2D and 3D assemblies has been recently investigated . However, these studies are mainly based on phenomenological models, ,,− but do not yield insight concerning the underlying physical processes involved during the formation of the 3D assemblies.…”

Shell formation in short like-charged polyelectrolytes in a harmonic trap

“…The objective of this work is to theoretically study the distribution of charged polymers in a trap potential to understand the underlying mechanisms of the structure formation in charged biomolecules. In many colloidal and plasma systems, the pattern formation is due to the presence of some short-ranged attractive forces in the system [35][36][37][38][39][40][41]. Here we show that the pattern formations can occur even in the absence of the attractive interactions, primarily due to the competing effects of the trap and the electrostatic repulsions.…”

“…This formalism would provide a useful description for the micro-structures that form in polymer colloids confined in optical traps. In recent years structural transitions in trapped colloids as well as plasmas have attracted the attention of experimentalists as well as theorists [35][36][37][38][39][40]. The colloidal and dusty plasmas have been found to form shell structures in 3D…”

“…In recent years structural transitions in trapped colloids as well as plasmas have attracted the attention of experimentalists as well as theorists [35][36][37][38][39][40]. The colloidal and dusty plasmas have been found to form shell structures in 3D…”

Structural Ordering of Self-Assembled Clusters with Competing Interactions: Transition from Faceted to Spherical Clusters

“…Two-dimensional self-assembled systems have been investigated in the past using a competing interaction for the pairwise potential − and considering a quadratic confinement potential in order to stabilize the system formation in a closed region. The self-organization and the pattern formation were also analyzed in 2D by applying different methods. , Recently, experiments have shown that the interparticle interaction can be modeled by a pairwise competing potential in the case of self-assembled clusters of metallic nanoparticles, ,, quantum dots at the air–water interface, and colloidal clusters by depletion attraction .…”