Structure, Dynamics and Phase Transitions of Suspensions of Charged Polymer Spheres in Equilibrium and Nonequilibrium States

利用带电聚合物球水悬浮液独特的长度和时间尺度特征，研究了强相互作用球形粒子体系的基本平衡和非平衡性质。实验将包括光学显微镜、光散射强度波动光谱学、激光捕获粒子、中子散射、已经发展的技术，以及其他方法的新应用，包括数字图像处理和光学全内反射。非平衡研究将集中在剪切引起的悬浮液样品的结构变化，在平衡状态下形成液体和固体状结构。平衡研究将研究一、二、三维的局部秩序、动力学和相变。包括模拟和分子动态计算机模拟在内的理论研究将支持和扩展局部液体结构，激光俘获和非平衡行为的工作。

The unique length and time scales characteristic of aqueous suspensions of charged polymer spheres are exploited to study the basic equilibrium and nonequilibrium properties of strongly interacting spherical particle systems. Experiments will include optical microscopy, light scattering intensity fluctuation spectroscopy, laser trapping of particles, and neutron scattering, techniques which have already been developed, as well as novel applications of other methods including digital image processing and optical total internal reflection. Nonequilibrium studies will focus on shear induced structure changes in suspension samples which form liquid-like and solid-like structures in equilibrium. Equilibrium studies will investigate local order, dynamics and phase transitions in one, two and three dimensions. Theoretical studies including analog and molecular dynamic computer simulation will support and extend work on local liquid structure, laser trapping and nonequilibrium behavior.