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

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The unique length and time scales characteristic of suspensions of charge stabilized polymer spheres are exploited to study the basic equilibrium and nonequilibrium properties of strongly interacting spherical particle systems. Proposed experiments include optical microscopy, light scattering intensity fluctuation spectroscopy, laser trapping of particles, x-ray and neutron scattering, and digital image processing. Nonequilibrium studies will focus on shear induced structure changes in suspension samples which form liquid-like and crystal-like structures in equilibrium, the dynamics of the crystallization process, and the glass transition. 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 continue, support and extend work on local liquid structure, and nonequilibrium behavior.