A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Sensitive dependence on molecular interactions of length scales in sheared soft matter
Authors: Scacchi, A.; Mazza, M. G.; Archer, A. J.
Publisher: AMER PHYSICAL SOC
Publishing place: COLLEGE PK
Publication year: 2020
Journal: Physical Review Research
Journal name in source: PHYSICAL REVIEW RESEARCH
Journal acronym: PHYS REV RES
Article number: 032064
Volume: 2
Issue: 3
Number of pages: 7
eISSN: 2643-1564
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.2.032064
Abstract
The structure and degree of order in soft matter and other materials is intimately connected to the nature of the interactions between the particles. One important research goal is to find suitable control mechanisms, to enhance or suppress different structures. Using dynamical density functional theory, we investigate the interplay between external shear and the characteristic length scales in the interparticle correlations of a model system. We show that shear can controllably change the characteristic length scale from one to another quite distinct value. Moreover, with specific small changes in the form of the particle interactions, the applied shear can either selectively enhance or suppress the different characteristic wavelengths of the system, thus showing how to tune these. Our results suggest that the nonlinear response to flow can be harnessed to design different actively responsive materials.
The structure and degree of order in soft matter and other materials is intimately connected to the nature of the interactions between the particles. One important research goal is to find suitable control mechanisms, to enhance or suppress different structures. Using dynamical density functional theory, we investigate the interplay between external shear and the characteristic length scales in the interparticle correlations of a model system. We show that shear can controllably change the characteristic length scale from one to another quite distinct value. Moreover, with specific small changes in the form of the particle interactions, the applied shear can either selectively enhance or suppress the different characteristic wavelengths of the system, thus showing how to tune these. Our results suggest that the nonlinear response to flow can be harnessed to design different actively responsive materials.
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