Magnetic colloidal single particles and dumbbells on a tilted washboard moire pattern in a precessing external field

TL;DR

This study investigates the motion of magnetic colloidal particles and dumbbells on a tilted moiré pattern under a precessing magnetic field, revealing localization and dynamic phase behaviors influenced by field strength and precession angle.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the behavior of magnetic colloids on moiré patterns under precessing fields, highlighting localization and phase dynamics.

Findings

Particles localize at higher field strengths

Dynamic phases depend on field strength and precession angle

Localization occurs in specific flat channels within the pattern

Abstract

We measure the dynamical behavior of colloidal singlets and dumbbells on an inclined magnetic moir\'e pattern, subject to a precessing external homogeneous magnetic field. At low external field strength single colloidal particles and dumbbells move everywhere on the pattern: At stronger external field strengths colloidal singlets and dumbbells are localized in generic locations. There are however nongeneric locations of flat channels that cross the moir\'e Wigner Seitz cell. In the flat channels we find gravitational driven translational and non-translational dynamic phase behavior of the colloidal singlets and dumbbells depending on the external field strength and the precession angle of the external homogeneous magnetic field.