Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 28, 2026

Fragmenting Bulk Hydrogels and Processing into Granular Hydrogels for Biomedical Applications
Published on: May 17, 2022
Crystallization processes in a nonvibrating magnetic granular system with short range repulsive interaction
M J Sánchez-Miranda1, J L Carrillo-Estrada1, F Donado2
1Instituto de Física "Luis Rivera Terrazas", Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Puebla, Puebla, Mexico.
Applying unsteady magnetic fields to 2D granular systems creates fluid-like motion. Cooling rates influence the formation of diverse solid structures, revealing crystallization as a collective phenomenon.
Area of Science:
- Physics
- Materials Science
- Soft Matter Physics
Background:
- Granular systems exhibit complex behaviors under external stimuli.
- Understanding phase transitions in condensed matter is crucial.
- Magnetic fields offer a tunable parameter for controlling granular dynamics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the structural characteristics of solid-like structures in a 2D magnetic granular system.
- To explore the influence of different cooling rates on structure formation.
- To analyze the crystallization process and its collective nature.
Main Methods:
- Applying an unsteady magnetic field (superposition of constant and sinusoidal fields) to a 2D granular system.
- Controlling effective temperature and cooling rates by adjusting the magnetic field.
- Analyzing structural properties using mean squared displacement, effective diffusion coefficient, and radial distribution function.
- Introducing slight surface inclination to study particle concentration gradients.
Main Results:
- A quasi steady state was achieved where effective temperature is proportional to magnetic field amplitude.
- Diverse condensed structures (gel-like, glass-like, crystalline) were observed, dependent on cooling rate.
- The crystallization process was identified as a collective phenomenon.
- Particle concentration gradients were investigated under slight surface inclination.
Conclusions:
- The cooling rate significantly dictates the type of solid-like structure formed in magnetic granular systems.
- Crystallization in these systems is a collective behavior, not solely an individual particle process.
- Magnetic fields provide a versatile tool for controlling and studying phase transitions in granular matter.
Related Concept Videos
Crystal Field Theory - Octahedral Complexes
To explain the observed behavior of transition metal complexes (such as colors), a model involving electrostatic interactions between the electrons from the ligands and the electrons in the unhybridized d orbitals of the central metal atom has been developed. This electrostatic model is crystal field theory (CFT). It helps to understand, interpret, and predict the colors, magnetic behavior, and some structures of coordination compounds of transition metals.
CFT focuses on...
Colors and Magnetism
When atoms or molecules absorb light at the proper frequency, their electrons are excited to higher-energy orbitals. For many main group atoms and molecules, the absorbed photons are in the ultraviolet range of the electromagnetic spectrum, which cannot be detected by the human eye. For coordination compounds, the energy difference between the d orbitals often allows photons in the visible range to be absorbed and emitted, which is seen as colors by the human...
Range
15.9; 16.1; 15.2; 14.8; 15.8; 15.9; 16.0; 15.5
Measurements of the amount of soda in a 16-ounce can vary since different subjects record these measurements or since the exact amount - 16 ounces of liquid, was not...
Ionic Crystal Structures
Most monatomic ions behave as charged spheres, and their attraction for ions of opposite charge is the same in every direction. Consequently, stable structures for ionic compounds result (1) when ions of one charge are surrounded by as many ions as possible of the opposite...
Crystal Field Theory - Tetrahedral and Square Planar Complexes
Crystal field theory (CFT) is applicable to molecules in geometries other than octahedral. In octahedral complexes, the lobes of the dx2−y2 and dz2 orbitals point directly at the ligands. For tetrahedral complexes, the d orbitals remain in place, but with only four ligands located between the axes. None of the orbitals points directly at the tetrahedral ligands. However, the dx2−y2 and dz2 orbitals (along the Cartesian axes) overlap with the ligands less than the dxy,...
Crystal Growth: Principles of Crystallization
Initiating crystallization involves manipulating the concentration of the solute and the temperature of the solution. Since crystal growth occurs when the ratio of concentration and solubility of the solute in the solvent...

