Static and dynamic shear viscosity of a single layer complex plasma

TL;DR

This study measures static and dynamic shear viscosity of a single layer complex plasma, revealing shear-thinning behavior and frequency-dependent viscoelastic properties, supported by molecular dynamics simulations.

Contribution

It provides experimental data on shear viscosity in complex plasmas and demonstrates the frequency dependence of their viscoelastic response, supported by simulations.

Findings

Shear-thinning effect observed under static shear.

Strong frequency dependence of complex viscosity components.

Experimental results supported by molecular dynamics simulations.

Abstract

We measured the static and dynamic (complex) shear viscosity of a single layer complex plasma by applying, respectively, a stationary and a periodically modulated shear stress induced by the light pressure of manipulating laser beams. Under static conditions the shear viscosity reproduced the numerically predicted shear rate dependence, the so called shear-thinning effect. Under oscillating shear both the magnitude and the ratio of the dissipative and elastic contributions to the complex viscosity show strong frequency dependence. Accompanying molecular dynamics simulations explain and support the experimental observations.