Archimedean-like colloidal tilings on substrates with decagonal and tetradecagonal symmetry

TL;DR

This study investigates the formation and properties of Archimedean-like colloidal tilings on substrates with decagonal and tetradecagonal symmetry, revealing how laser field symmetry and phasonic distortions influence the tiling structure.

Contribution

It introduces the observation of similar tilings under tetradecagonal symmetry and analyzes how phasonic distortions affect domain size and tiling quality.

Findings

Archimedean-like tilings occur in both decagonal and tetradecagonal symmetry fields.

Phasonic drifts and gradients can enlarge tiling domains.

Incorrect laser beam adjustments lead to phasonic distortions.

Abstract

Two-dimensional colloidal suspensions subject to laser interference patterns with decagonal symmetry can form an Archimedean-like tiling phase where rows of squares and triangles order aperiodically along one direction [J. Mikhael et al., Nature 454, 501 (2008)]. In experiments as well as in Monte-Carlo and Brownian dynamics simulations, we identify a similar phase when the laser field possesses tetradecagonal symmetry. We characterize the structure of both Archimedean-like tilings in detail and point out how the tilings differ from each other. Furthermore, we also estimate specific particle densities where the Archimedean-like tiling phases occur. Finally, using Brownian dynamics simulations we demonstrate how phasonic distortions of the decagonal laser field influence the Archimedean-like tiling. In particular, the domain size of the tiling can be enlarged by phasonic drifts and constant gradients in the phasonic displacement. We demonstrate that the latter occurs when the interfering laser beams are not adjusted properly.