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Updated: Jun 14, 2026

Formation of Ordered Biomolecular Structures by the Self-assembly of Short Peptides
Published on: November 21, 2013
Self-organized patterns in collections of chains
1Manchester Centre for Nonlinear Dynamics, The University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, United Kingdom.
Abstract:
Results are presented of an experimental investigation into patterned segregation in thin layers of poppy seeds and short lengths of metal chains subjected to vibration. Critical phenomena are uncovered and both continuous and discontinuous transitions are observed. A phase diagram for the behavior is mapped out and a tricritical point that separates hysteretic from continuous segregation is identified. Remarkable similarities are found between the observed behavior in this driven granular system and phase separation phenomena in mixtures where the dynamics of the constituent components are markedly different.
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