Quasicrystal formation in binary soft matter mixtures

Using a strategy that may be applied in theory or in experiments, we identify the regime in which a model binary soft matter mixture forms quasicrystals. The system is described using classical density functional theory combined with integral equation theory. Quasicrystal formation requires particle...

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Main Authors: A. Scacchi, W. R. C. Somerville, D. M. A. Buzza, A. J. Archer
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: American Physical Society 2020-08-01
Series:Physical Review Research
Online Access:http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.2.032043
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author A. Scacchi
W. R. C. Somerville
D. M. A. Buzza
A. J. Archer
author_facet A. Scacchi
W. R. C. Somerville
D. M. A. Buzza
A. J. Archer
author_sort A. Scacchi
collection DOAJ
description Using a strategy that may be applied in theory or in experiments, we identify the regime in which a model binary soft matter mixture forms quasicrystals. The system is described using classical density functional theory combined with integral equation theory. Quasicrystal formation requires particle ordering with two characteristic length scales in certain particular ratios. How the length scales are related to the form of the pair interactions is reasonably well understood for one-component systems, but less is known for mixtures. In our model mixture of big and small colloids confined to an interface, the two length scales stem from the range of the interactions between pairs of big particles and from the cross big-small interactions, respectively. The small-small length scale is not significant. Our strategy for finding quasicrystals involves tuning locations of maxima in the dispersion relation, or equivalently in the liquid state partial static structure factors.
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spelling doaj.art-00b128fb034a4be381bb5a97411c0e2c2024-04-12T16:59:10ZengAmerican Physical SocietyPhysical Review Research2643-15642020-08-012303204310.1103/PhysRevResearch.2.032043Quasicrystal formation in binary soft matter mixturesA. ScacchiW. R. C. SomervilleD. M. A. BuzzaA. J. ArcherUsing a strategy that may be applied in theory or in experiments, we identify the regime in which a model binary soft matter mixture forms quasicrystals. The system is described using classical density functional theory combined with integral equation theory. Quasicrystal formation requires particle ordering with two characteristic length scales in certain particular ratios. How the length scales are related to the form of the pair interactions is reasonably well understood for one-component systems, but less is known for mixtures. In our model mixture of big and small colloids confined to an interface, the two length scales stem from the range of the interactions between pairs of big particles and from the cross big-small interactions, respectively. The small-small length scale is not significant. Our strategy for finding quasicrystals involves tuning locations of maxima in the dispersion relation, or equivalently in the liquid state partial static structure factors.http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.2.032043
spellingShingle A. Scacchi
W. R. C. Somerville
D. M. A. Buzza
A. J. Archer
Quasicrystal formation in binary soft matter mixtures
Physical Review Research
title Quasicrystal formation in binary soft matter mixtures
title_full Quasicrystal formation in binary soft matter mixtures
title_fullStr Quasicrystal formation in binary soft matter mixtures
title_full_unstemmed Quasicrystal formation in binary soft matter mixtures
title_short Quasicrystal formation in binary soft matter mixtures
title_sort quasicrystal formation in binary soft matter mixtures
url http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.2.032043
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