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Wave-Driven Assembly of Quasiperiodic Patterns of Particles
Elena Cherkaev1, Fernando Guevara Vasquez1, China Mauck1
1Department of Mathematics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, USA.
Physical Review Letters
|April 23, 2021
Summary
Superposing plane waves can assemble small particles into quasiperiodic patterns. Experiments using ultrasound and carbon nanoparticles confirmed this phenomenon, showing good agreement with theoretical predictions.
Area of Science:
- Physics
- Materials Science
- Acoustics
Background:
- Particle manipulation in fluids is crucial for various applications.
- Controlling particle assembly into ordered structures remains a challenge.
- Quasiperiodic patterns offer unique properties distinct from periodic arrangements.
Purpose of the Study:
- To theoretically demonstrate particle assembly into quasiperiodic patterns using wave superposition.
- To experimentally validate the theoretical model using ultrasound and nanoparticles.
- To explore the broader applicability of the wave-driven assembly theory.
Main Methods:
- Theoretical modeling of particle dynamics under superimposed plane waves.
- Experimental setup utilizing an octagonal arrangement of ultrasound transducers.
- Observation and analysis of carbon nanoparticle assembly in water.
Main Results:
- Theoretical prediction of quasiperiodic two- and three-dimensional particle patterns.
- Experimental formation of quasiperiodic patterns using ultrasound waves.
- Demonstrated good agreement between theoretical predictions and experimental outcomes.
Conclusions:
- Superposition of plane waves is an effective method for creating quasiperiodic particle patterns.
- The demonstrated technique is applicable to small particles in fluids, including carbon nanoparticles.
- The underlying theory has potential applications in areas like optical lattices for particle manipulation.
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