Translationally invariant colloidal crystal templates

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel method using feedback-controlled optical traps to create translationally invariant colloidal crystal templates that can stabilize any given lattice symmetry, including unstable configurations.

Contribution

It presents a dynamic, feedback-based approach to stabilize colloidal lattices with any symmetry, maintaining zero energy modes unlike static templates.

Findings

Successfully stabilized a 2D square lattice in simulations.

Demonstrated preservation of zero energy modes in the stabilized lattice.

Applicable to various lattice symmetries in colloidal systems.

Abstract

We show that dynamic, feed-back controlled optical traps, whose positions depend on the instantaneous local configuration of particles in a pre-determined way, can stabilise colloidal particles in finite lattices of ${\it any}$ given symmetry. Unlike in a static template, the crystal so formed is translationally invariant and retains all possible zero energy modes. We demonstrate this ${\it in-silico}$ by stabilising the unstable two-dimensional ${\it square}$ lattice in a model soft solid with isotropic interactions.