Dipole Force Research Articles

Confinement induced trajectory of a squirmer in a two dimensional channel

Micro-swimmers in confinement are encountered in a variety of scenarios such as locomotion of sperm cells in female reproductive tract, targeted drug delivery and biofilm formation. Using a squirmer, a surface actuating model, we simulate the trajectory of swimmers in a two-dimensional channel confinement. Exploiting the simplicity of squirmer model and performing the study in two dimensions we restrict the analysis to minimum number of parameters and isolate and analyze the confinement induced swimmer trajectories. Using exact solutions of two dimensional disk squirmers we first show that they behave qualitatively similar to three dimensional spherical squirmers near a repulsive, planar wall. In a channel, fully resolved flow and thus hydrodynamic interaction between the squirmer and the channel walls are obtained using the lattice Boltzmann method. We find that strong pullers and pushers slide along the channel walls, a behavior determined by single wall. In contrast, swimmers with weak force dipoles break the symmetry in behavior between pushers and pullers, and this behavior is determined by both walls of the channel. Weak pullers stay at the channel center and weak pushers execute an oscillatory trajectory spanning the channel width. Straight line trajectories can be solely characterized by a fixed point on a phase plane spanned by its orientation angle and the distance from the channel centerline whereas oscillatory trajectories can be solely characterized using its escape angle from the wall. The nature of the trajectories is found to be robust to the details of higher modes and the size of the confinement.

Microphase separation in a two-dimensional colloidal system with competing attractive critical Casimir and repulsive magnetic dipole interactions.

We propose and study theoretically a colloidal system in two dimensions with attractive critical Casimir and repulsive magnetic dipole forces, wherein the strength of attraction and repulsion can be easily and independently tuned by adjusting the temperature and an external magnetic field, respectively. We expect this setup to be experimentally accessible and are confident that it can serve to deepen our understanding of the mechanisms behind microphase separation due to competing interactions. We develop a density functional theory for our model and present first results of our calculations in the form of a phase diagram for fixed temperature, but varying magnetic fields and bulk densities. For certain values of these parameters, we are able to confirm the existence of thermodynamically stable inhomogeneous density profiles in the bulk, such as parallel lamellar stripes, as well as clusters and voids on a hexagonal lattice.

Toxicity studies of 1020 Long Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes (L-MWNT-1020) administered by inhalation to Sprague Dawley (Hsd:Sprague Dawley SD) rats and B6C3F1/N mice.

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) are highly ordered hexagonal lattices of carbon atoms arranged into cylinders by hydrogen bonding, dipolar forces, hydrophilic or hydrophobic interactions, gravity, and other forces. MWCNTs are synthesized by applying energy to a carbon source, which produces individual or groups of carbon atoms that reassemble into tubes. One of the primary uses of MWCNTs is in nanotube-reinforced polymer composite materials that take advantage of their low-density and high load-bearing capacity. Nanoscale materials were nominated by the Rice University Center for Biological and Environmental Nanotechnology to the National Toxicology Program for toxicologic testing. Because long-term inhalation toxicity and carcinogenicity studies were being conducted on a relatively short, rigid MWCNT, a representative long and thin MWCNT was selected for these studies. Following an evaluation of 24 different long, thin MWCNTs, the 1020 Long Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube (L-MWNT-1020) (Sun Innovations, Fremont, CA) was selected for study based on availability, high purity (97%), and the low amount of residual nickel catalyst (0.52% by weight). The average L-MWNT-1020 nanotube length was 2,600 nm and the average width was 15.3 nm. Because nickel was shown to be tightly bound to L-MWNT-1020, tissue nickel content was measured to determine lung burden. (Abstract Abridged).

Rotation and propulsion in 3D active chiral droplets

Chirality is a recurrent theme in the study of biological systems, in which active processes are driven by the internal conversion of chemical energy into work. Bacterial flagella, actomyosin filaments, and microtubule bundles are active systems that are also intrinsically chiral. Despite some exploratory attempt to capture the relations between chirality and motility, many features of intrinsically chiral systems still need to be explored and explained. To address this gap in knowledge, here we study the effects of internal active forces and torques on a 3-dimensional (3D) droplet of cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) embedded in an isotropic liquid. We consider tangential anchoring of the liquid crystal director at the droplet surface. Contrary to what happens in nematics, where moderate extensile activity leads to droplet rotation, cholesteric active droplets exhibit more complex and variegated behaviors. We find that extensile force dipole activity stabilizes complex defect configurations, in which orbiting dynamics couples to thermodynamic chirality to propel screw-like droplet motion. Instead, dipolar torque activity may either tighten or unwind the cholesteric helix and if tuned, can power rotations with an oscillatory angular velocity of 0 mean.

Thermoplastic Dynamic Vulcanizates with In Situ Synthesized Segmented Polyurethane Matrix.

The aim of this paper was the detailed investigation of the properties of one-shot bulk polymerized thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPUs) produced with different processing temperatures and the properties of thermoplastic dynamic vulcanizates (TDVs) made by utilizing such in situ synthetized TPUs as their matrix polymer. We combined TPUs and conventional crosslinked rubbers in order to create TDVs by dynamic vulcanization in an internal mixer. The rubber phase was based on three different rubber types: acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBR), carboxylated acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (XNBR), and epoxidized natural rubber (ENR). Our goal was to investigate the effect of different processing conditions and material combinations on the properties of the resulting TDVs with the opportunity of improving the interfacial connection between the two phases by chemically bonding the crosslinked rubber phase to the TPU matrix. Therefore, the matrix TPU was synthesized in situ during compounding from diisocyanate, diol, and polyol in parallel with the dynamic vulcanization of the rubber mixture. The mechanical properties were examined by tensile and dynamical mechanical analysis (DMTA) tests. The morphology of the resulting TDVs was studied by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the thermal properties by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Based on these results, the initial temperature of 125 °C is the most suitable for the production of TDVs. Based on the atomic force micrographs, it can be assumed that phase separation occurred in the TPU matrix and we managed to evenly distribute the rubber phase in the TDVs. However, based on the SEM images, these dispersed rubber particles tended to agglomerate and form a quasi-continuous secondary phase where rubber particles were held together by secondary forces (dipole–dipole and hydrogen bonding) and can be broken up reversibly by heat and/or shear. In terms of mechanical properties, the TDVs we produced are on a par with commercially available TDVs with similar hardness.

Deposition of Cr Atoms Using Switching-Detuning Light Mask for Direct Atom Lithography

Background: As progress on the nanofabrication has made semiconductor developed rapidly, there is an increasing need in precise pitch standards to calibrate the structure of devices at nanoscale. Nano-gratings fabricated by atom lithography are unique and suitable to act as precise pitch standard because its pitch distance is directly traceable to a natural constant. As the scaling down of nano-devices, it is very challenging to double the spatial frequency of nano-grating while keeping the self-traceability in atom lithography. Methods: In this study, the switching-detuning light mask is utilized for Cr atom lithography. During a single deposition process, the standing wave frequency is switching from positive detuning to negative detuning alternatively. Results: Nano-gratings fabricated using switching-detuning light mask is successfully replicated with double spatial frequency and self-traceability. Non-uniformity between neighboring Cr lines shows up with a corrected pitch of 107.15 Conclusion: Non-uniformity is mainly caused by the dipole force discrepancy between positive and negative detuning light mask. Therefore, to increase the high uniformity of nano-gratings, the deposition time of negative detuning should be at least twice as the positive detuning. On the other hand, to reduce the pitch uncertainty, it is necessary to reduce the distance between the atom beam and reflection mirror as close as possible. These two significant optimization designs are promising to increase the spatial frequency doubling performance with high uniformity and accuracy.

Anisotropic line tension of domains in lipid monolayers.

We formulate a simple effective model to describe molecular interactions in a lipid monolayer and calculate the line tension between coexisting domains. The model represents lipid molecules in terms of two-dimensional anisotropic particles on the plane of the monolayer. These particles interact through forces that are believed to be relevant for the understanding of fundamental properties of the monolayer: van der Waals interactions originating from lipid chains and dipolar forces between dipole groups in the molecular heads. The model stresses the liquid-crystalline nature of the ordered phase in lipid monolayers and explains coexistence properties between ordered and disordered phases in terms of molecular parameters. Thermodynamic and interfacial properties of the model are analyzed using density-functional theory. In particular, the line tension at the interface between ordered and disordered phases turns out to be highly anisotropic with respect to the angle between the nematic director and the interface separating the coexisting phases. This important feature mainly results from the tilt angle of lipid chains and, to a lesser extent, from dipolar interactions perpendicular to the monolayer. The role of the two dipolar components, parallel and perpendicular to the monolayer, is assessed by comparing with computer simulation results for lipid monolayers.

Magnetic-field-induced chain-like assemblies of the primary phase during non-equilibrium solidification of a Co-B eutectic alloy: Experiments and modeling

Systematic understanding on the morphology and magnetic alignment of the primary α-Co phase during non-equilibrium solidification of a Co-B eutectic alloy were carried out. Under an imposed magnetic field, a morphological alignment was found for the primary α-Co phase with its primary dendrite trunk or long axis paralleling to the direction of magnetic field. The primary α-Co phases are rod-like and spherical at relatively high undercooling, and the application of magnetic field is more conducive to obtain such kind of α-Co phases. The magnetic energy, magnetic torque and time required for rotation were analyzed theoretically to evaluate the magnetic alignment and alignment mechanisms. Subsequently, the dipolar forces between particles were calculated, based on which the phenomenon that the primary α-Co particles self-organize as chain-like stacking was described. The present research provides a better understanding of the strong magnetic field effects on non-equilibrium solidification and a potential technology of field-manipulation of ferromagnetic materials.

Velocity-dependent optical forces and Maxwell\u2019s demon

An atom placed in a focused laser beam will experience a dipole force due to the gradient in the interaction energy, which is analogous to the well-known optical tweezers effect. This force will be dependent on the velocity of the atom due to the Doppler effect, which could potentially be used to implement a Maxwell’s demon. Photon scattering and other forms of dissipation can be negligibly small, which would seem to contradict quantum information proofs that a Maxwell’s demon must dissipate a minimum amount of energy. We show that the velocity dependence of the dipole force is cancelled out by another force that is related to the gradient in the phase of the laser beam. As a result, a Maxwell’s demon cannot be implemented in this way.

Interference of axially-shifted Laguerre–Gaussian beams and their interaction with atoms

Counter-propagating co-axial Laguerre–Gaussian (LG) beams are considered, not in the familiar scenario where the focal planes coincide at z = 0, but when they are separated by a finite axial distance d. The simplest case is where both beams are doughnut beams which have the same linear polarisation. The total fields of this system are shown to display novel amplitude and phase distributions and are shown to give rise to a ring or a finite ring lattice composed of double rings and single central ring. When the beams have slightly different frequencies the ring lattice pattern becomes a finite set of rotating Ferris wheels and the whole pattern also moves axially between the focal planes. We show that the fields of such an axially shifted pair of counter-propagating LG beams generate trapping potentials due to the dipole force which can trap two-level atoms in the components of the ring lattice. We also highlight a unique feature of this system which involves the creation of a new longitudinal optical atom trapping potential due to the scattering force which arises solely when . The results are illustrated using realistic parameters which also confirm the importance of the Gouy and curvature effects in determining the ring separation both radially and axially and gives rise to the possibility of atom tunnelling between components of the double rings.

Formation of spiral ordering by magnetic field in frustrated anisotropic antiferromagnets

We discuss theoretically phase transitions in frustrated antiferromagnets with biaxial anisotropy or dipolar forces in magnetic field applied along the easy axis at $T=0$. There are well-known sequences of phase transitions upon the field increasing: the conventional spin-flop transition and the flop of the spiral plane at strong and weak easy-axis anisotropy, respectively. We argue that much less studied scenarios can appear at moderate anisotropy in which the magnetic field induces transitions of the first order from the collinear state to phases with spiral orderings. Critical fields of these transitions are derived in the mean-field approximation and the necessary conditions are found for the realization of these scenarios. We show that one of the considered sequences of phase transitions was found in multiferroic MnWO$_4$ both experimentally and numerically (in a relevant model) and our theory reproduces quantitatively the numerical findings.

Multiparticle collision dynamics for tensorial nematodynamics.

Liquid crystals establish a nearly unique combination of thermodynamic, hydrodynamic, and topological behavior. This poses a challenge to their theoretical understanding and modeling. The arena where these effects come together is the mesoscopic (micron) scale. It is then important to develop models aimed at capturing this variety of dynamics. We have generalized the particle-based multiparticle collision dynamics (MPCD) method to model the dynamics of nematic liquid crystals. Following the Qian-Sheng theory [Phys. Rev. E 58, 7475 (1998)1063-651X10.1103/PhysRevE.58.7475] of nematics, the spatial and temporal variations of the nematic director field and order parameter are described by a tensor order parameter. The key idea is to assign tensorial degrees of freedom to each MPCD particle, whose mesoscopic average is the tensor order parameter. This nematic MPCD method includes backflow effect, velocity-orientation coupling, and thermal fluctuations. We validate the applicability of this method by testing (i) the nematic-isotropic phase transition, (ii) the flow alignment of the director in shear and Poiseuille flows, and (iii) the annihilation dynamics of a pair of line defects. We find excellent agreement with existing literature. We also investigate the flow field around a force dipole in a nematic liquid crystal, which represents the leading-order flow field around a force-free microswimmer. The anisotropy of the medium not only affects the magnitude of velocity field around the force dipole, but can also induce hydrodynamic torques depending on the orientation of dipole axis relative to director field. A force dipole experiences a hydrodynamic torque when the dipole axis is tilted with respect to the far-field director. The direction of hydrodynamic torque is such that the pusher- (or puller-) type force dipole tends to orient along (or perpendicular to) the director field. Our nematic MPCD method can have far-reaching implications not only in modeling of nematic flows, but also to study the motion of colloids and microswimmers immersed in an anisotropic medium.

Measuring, Modeling, and Predicting the Magnetic Assembly Rate of 2D-Staggered Janus Particle Chains.

The assembly of magnetic Janus particles in a quasi-two-dimensional environment with a dipole moment shifted from the center and oriented perpendicular to the Janus cap height is studied with optical microscopy and found to adhere to a general model accounting for the particle dipole strength, the particle Brownian dynamics, the initial concentration, and, most importantly, the magnetic dipole shift. The particle aggregates are treated as diffusing spherocylinders with length and width dependent on the magnetic dipole shift. Aggregation occurs irreversibly once particle aggregates enter within a distance at which Brownian and dipole forces are equal, defined as the capture distance. The capture distance model is expressed as a general Smoluchowski coagulation rate kernel for chains of an arbitrary length, dipole strength, and dipole shift, allowing for aggregation rate predictions for related systems.

Recent progress on the simulation technology of magnetic fluid

Magnetic fluid is a novel magnetorheological (MR) intelligent material consisting of magnetic particles, non-magnetic matrix, and additive agents. After applying the external magnetic field, magnetic particles will interact with each other due to the magnetic dipolar forces. The viscosity and yield stress of magnetic fluid could increase several orders of magnitude in milliseconds, which is called the MR effect. The controllable and reversible property makes magnetic fluid widely applied in drug targeting delivery, magnetic thermal therapy, commercial dampers, and polishing etc. In order to comprehend the mechanical behaviors of magnetic fluid, researchers developed several theoretical models for different flow conditions. However, due to the extensive calculation, theoretical models are only applicable for some special problems, such as 2-dimensional and axial symmetry. In recent years, with the development of computer performance, simulation has become an important method to investigate the MR mechanism of magnetic fluid. This paper reviews the recent progress in the theory and simulation of magnetic fluid. Firstly, theoretical models of magnetic fluid under shear mode, squeeze mode, and valve mode are introduced. Secondly, the existing simulation methods for magnetic fluid, such as molecular dynamics, particle-level dynamic simulation, and finite element method, are illustrated. The validity of the methods and their merits and drawbacks are discussed. Then, the research progress of the simulation of magnetic fluid is summarized from 3 aspects: Simulations of mechanical properties of novel magnetic fluid, simulations of complex mechanical behaviors of conventional magnetic fluid, and simulations of biomagnetic fluid. Finally, some future trends of simulation of magnetic fluid are proposed. The following 3 topics should be emphasized in the future work. First, a comprehensive theoretical model considering a variety of microscopic interactions is required. In order to prepare magnetic particles with high MR effect, excellent dispersibility, and low density, surface coating, modification, and additive agents are usually applied in experiments. Unfortunately, the influence of non-magnetic components on the MR effect is seldom considered in simulations. Second, current simulations could not simultaneously obtain the macroscopic mechanical properties and microstructures of magnetic fluid in complex flow. Finite element method and computational fluid dynamics are applicable for complex macroscopic problems but can not obtain the microstructures at the same time. Mesoscopic simulation methods can not exhibit large-scale aggregations of particles, which leads to the deviation compared with experiments. To establish multi-scale simulation methods and improve the accuracy of simulations have become an urgent requirement. Combining simulation methods with different spatial scales and reducing the time cost by using machine learning have become a possible approach. Third, multi-physics coupling simulation methods should be established. The magnetic field controlled electrical properties of magnetic fluid have attracted researchers interest in recent years. Magnetic fluid with this novel controllable property could be widely applied in battery and sensors. Investigations on other physical properties of magnetic fluid by using mechanical, electrical, and magnetic model together will be a future trend. These achievements will all contribute to the development of high-performance magnetic fluids and further enlarge the range of applications of magnetic fluid.

Development of a Dual Isotope Co-Magnetometer Using Laser Cooled Rubidium Toward Electron Electric Dipole Moment Measurement Using Francium

We have developed a dual-rubidium-isotope magneto-optical tap (MOT) for a dual species co-magnetometer used in measurements of the electron electric dipole moment (EDM) using laser-cooled francium atoms. The EDM measurement using atoms in an optical dipole force trap exhibits the advantage of less Doppler effects and longer interaction time compared to atomic and molecular beam experiments. In EDM experiments, the fluctuation of the magnetic field and the vector light shift induced by an optical dipole force can cause systematic errors. The dual species co-magnetometer is being developed to simultaneously monitor the fluctuations of both the magnetic field and the vector light shift. We demonstrated the dual-rubidium-isotope MOT for the development of the dual species co-magnetometer.

Active dynamics and spatially coherent motion in chromosomes subject to enzymatic force dipoles.

Inspired by recent experiments on chromosomal dynamics, we introduce an exactly solvable model for the interaction between a flexible polymer and a set of motorlike enzymes. The enzymes can bind and unbind to specific sites of the polymer and produce a dipolar force on two neighboring monomers when bound. We study the resulting nonequilibrium dynamics of the polymer and find that the motion of the monomers has several properties that were observed experimentally for chromosomal loci: a subdiffusive mean-square displacement and the appearance of regions of correlated motion. We also determine the velocity autocorrelation of the monomers and find that the underlying stochastic process is not fractional Brownian motion. Finally, we show that the active forces swell the polymer by an amount that becomes constant for large polymers.

Elastic interactions between anisotropically contracting circular cells.

We study interactions between biological cells that apply anisotropic active mechanical forces on an elastic substrate. We model the cells as thin disks that along their perimeters apply radial, but angle-dependent forces on the substrate. We obtain analytical expressions for the elastic energy stored in the substrate as a function of the distance between the cells, the Fourier modes of applied forces, and their phase angles. We show how the relative phases of the forces applied by the cells can switch the interaction between attractive and repulsive, and relate our results to those for linear force dipoles. For long enough distances, the interaction energy decays in magnitude as a power law of the cell-cell distance with an integer exponent that generally increases with the Fourier modes of the applied forces.

Active matter invasion of a viscous fluid: Unstable sheets and a no-flow theorem.

We investigate the dynamics of a dilute suspension of hydrodynamically interacting motile or immotile stress-generating swimmers or particles as they invade a surrounding viscous fluid. Colonies of aligned pusher particles are shown to elongate in the direction of particle orientation and undergo a cascade of transverse concentration instabilities, governed at small times by an equation that also describes the Saffman-Taylor instability in a Hele-Shaw cell, or the Rayleigh-Taylor instability in a two-dimensional flow through a porous medium. Thin sheets of aligned pusher particles are always unstable, while sheets of aligned puller particles can either be stable (immotile particles), or unstable (motile particles) with a growth rate that is nonmonotonic in the force dipole strength. We also prove a surprising "no-flow theorem": a distribution initially isotropic in orientation loses isotropy immediately but in such a way that results in no fluid flow everywhere and for all time.

Magnetorheological particle clouds

Abstract It is known that a suspension of relatively large micron-size particles dispersed in a ferrofluid of much smaller particles yields a magnetorheological flui d with superior properties. In the absence of applied field experiment reveals the presence of a nanoparticle cloud surrounding each micron-size particle. The present work derives a thermodynamic model of cloud concentration distribution. It is found that van der Waals forces predominate over magnetic dipolar forces in forming the clouds. Additional analysis reveals that a repulsion force arises due to squeezing of the clouds as two cloud-surrounded particles approach one another. Repulsion aids redispersion of the larger particles by helping to prevent their agglomeration.

Effective focusing of a diverging atomic beam by a sequence of alternatively chirped few-cycle pulsed laser fields

We theoretically show how the effective focusing and defocusing of a diverging atomic beam can be realized using an appropriate sequence of linearly chirped few-cycle pulsed laser fields. First, we investigate and show that the time averaged optical dipole force induced by the sequence of either positively or negatively chirped pulses vanishes due to the periodic oscillations of the phases of in-phase components of atomic dipole moments. Then, we demonstrate that this issue could be overcome by utilizing a sequence of alternatively chirped pulses instead of either positively or negatively chirped pulses. It is shown that for such a sequence of pulses, the phases of in-phase components of atomic dipole moments does not oscillate periodically and in fact remain constant at either 0 or $\ensuremath{\pi}$ depending on the chirping direction of the initial pulse, resulting in either an effective focusing or defocusing optical dipole force. The trajectory of atoms under an optical dipole force is also investigated to actually show the focusing and defocusing. Finally, the role of beam shape on the proposed scheme is investigated and it turns out that a super-Gaussian pulse of order $m=2$ shows more efficacy compared to the normal Gaussian pulse.