Length-scales of Dynamic Heterogeneity in a Driven Binary Colloid

TL;DR

This study uses Brownian Dynamics simulations to analyze length scales of dynamic heterogeneity in a driven binary colloid system, revealing microphase separation and structural correlations under an electric field.

Contribution

It introduces the use of equal time density correlation functions to quantify structural and dynamic heterogeneity in colloids under an electric field, highlighting microphase separation.

Findings

Structural ETDCF increases with time for slow particles.

Dynamic ETDCF indicates microphase separation.

Correlation lengths grow over time, revealing heterogeneity.

Abstract

Here we study characteristic length scales in an aqueous suspension of symmetric oppositely charged colloid subject to a uniform electric field by Brownian Dynamics simulations. We consider a sufficiently strong electric field where the like charges in the system form macroscopic lanes. We construct spatial correlation functions characterizing structural order and that of particles of different mobilities in-plane transverse to the electric field at a given time. We call these functions as equal time density correlation function (ETDCF). The ETDCF between particles of different charges, irrespective of mobilities, are called structural ETDCFs, while those between particles of different mobilities are called the dynamic ETDCF. We extract the characteristic length of correlation by fitting the envelopes of the ETDCFs to exponential dependence. We find that structural ETDCF and the dynamical-ETDCFs of the slow particles increase with time. This suggests that the slow particles undergo microphase separation in the background of the fast particles which drive the structural pattern in the plane transverse to the lanes. The ETDCFs can be measured for colloidal systems directly following particle motion by video-microscopy and may be useful to understand patterns out of equilibrium.