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

利用电荷稳定聚合物球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。拟议的实验包括光学显微镜、光散射强度波动光谱、激光捕获粒子、x射线和中子散射以及数字图像处理。非平衡研究将集中在悬浮液样品中剪切引起的结构变化，在平衡状态下形成液体和晶体状结构，结晶过程的动力学和玻璃化转变。平衡研究将研究一、二、三维的局部秩序、动力学和相变。包括模拟和分子动力学计算机模拟在内的理论研究将继续，支持和扩展局部液体结构和非平衡行为的工作。

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.