Force measurement in colloidal glasses using optical tweezers

Laurence Wilson; Rut Besseling; Jochen Arlt; Wilson C. K. Poon

doi:10.1117/12.616450

18 August 2005 Force measurement in colloidal glasses using optical tweezers

Laurence Wilson, Rut Besseling, Jochen Arlt, Wilson C. K. Poon

Proceedings Volume 5930, Optical Trapping and Optical Micromanipulation II; 593016 (2005) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.616450
Event: Optics and Photonics 2005, 2005, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

Colloidal systems form the basis of many complex areas of academic and industrial research efforts. As well as contributing to the understanding of many industrially-produced substances such as paints and glues, they have also proved an excellent model thermodynamic system. Changing the properties of an ensemble of colloidal particles, chemically or otherwise, and observing the evolution of the many-body system gives insight into thermodynamic phenomena such as condensation and crystallisation. Some colloidal systems with a particle density that would place them around the dense end of the liquid-crystal coexistence region show a transition into an amorphous glassy state. Long range particle movement is prevented, while local diffusion is still allowed. Such systems are ideal candidates for exploration with optical force measurements, which allow the relatively non-intrusive manipulation of particles deep within colloidal suspensions. Careful use of refractive index matching has allowed an invisible colloidal suspension to be examined with probe particles of a similar size, but higher refractive index. The environment of particles in colloidal cages has been measured by studying the forces acting on a localised particle, as well as the forces needed to break one or more cages.

Citation Download Citation

Laurence Wilson, Rut Besseling, Jochen Arlt, and Wilson C. K. Poon "Force measurement in colloidal glasses using optical tweezers", Proc. SPIE 5930, Optical Trapping and Optical Micromanipulation II, 593016 (18 August 2005); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.616450

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