Dynamics, Rectification, and Fractionalization for Colloids on Flashing Substrates

TL;DR

This paper explores how colloids on flashing substrates exhibit diverse dynamic behaviors, including phase locking and ratchet effects, driven by collective interactions and external forces, revealing complex phenomena in soft matter physics.

Contribution

It demonstrates the emergence of various dynamic phases and ratchet effects in colloids on flashing substrates, highlighting the role of collective interactions and mixed species.

Findings

Phase locking and jamming observed under external drives

Addition of non-ratcheting species can enhance ratchet particle velocities

Collective interactions drive the complex dynamic behaviors

Abstract

We show that a rich variety of dynamic phases can be realized for mono- and bidisperse mixtures of interacting colloids under the influence of a symmetric flashing periodic substrate. With the addition of dc or ac drives, phase locking, jamming, and new types of ratchet effects occur. In some regimes we find that the addition of a non-ratcheting species increases the velocity of the ratcheting particles. We show that these effects occur due to the collective interactions of the colloids.