Light Induced Melting of Colloidal Crystals in Two Dimensions

TL;DR

This paper explores how 2D colloidal particles under a 1D periodic potential exhibit complex phase behavior, including reentrant melting, with results aligning with recent laser-induced colloid experiments.

Contribution

It provides a detailed phase diagram for 2D colloids in a 1D potential, revealing reentrant melting and universal behaviors.

Findings

Identification of locked floating solid and smectic phases

Observation of reentrant melting as potential strength varies

Agreement with recent experimental results

Abstract

We demonstrate that particles confined to two dimensions (2d) and subjected to a one-dimensional (1d) periodic potential exhibit a rich phase diagram, with both ``locked floating solids'' and smectic phases. The resulting phases and phase transitions are studied as a function of temperature and potential strength. We find reentrant melting as a function of the potential strength. Our results lead to universal predictions consistent with recent experiments on 2d colloids in the presence of a laser-induced 1d periodic potential.