RUI: Vibrational Properties of Dense Colloidal Suspensions with Short-Range Attractive Potential

****技术摘要****玻璃态跃迁理论和玻璃态的性质是软凝聚态物理中尚未解决的问题。胶体悬浮液是研究玻璃性质和玻璃化转变的模型体系。在实验和模拟中观察到两种不同的胶体玻璃状态，由粒子笼化和粒子键合驱动。由于在胶体悬浮液中，使用共聚焦显微镜可以在空间和时间上跟踪胶体颗粒的轨迹，因此将研究颗粒动力学和结构，以确定颗粒笼化，键合或两者对于系统的结构捕获是否重要。这将是这个项目的重点。在本项目中获得的知识将促进对具有不同吸引强度和体积分数的胶体悬浮液的基本理解，从而进一步阐明分子玻璃的性质。参与该项目的本科生将进行研究，学习前沿实验技术，如样品制备、显微镜、编程和胶体科学。获得的成果将通过张贴海报和在区域和国家会议上的演讲，以及通过学生共同撰写的论文，由本科生广泛传播。此外，参与这个项目的学生将深入了解科学和技术的职业。****非技术摘要****复杂液体和无定形固体，如胶体悬浮液、乳液、液晶和聚合物熔体，是日常生活中从食品工业到化妆品再到材料科学等广泛工业分支中遇到的材料。这个实验项目通过研究微米大小的颗粒在不同粒子间吸引力的液体中的悬浮液来探索非晶系统的动力学和结构。通过实验研究这种胶体悬浮液，将获得新的结果，这些结果将证实或反驳目前的计算机模拟和理论。这些复杂系统的基础知识将有助于开发新的复杂材料，并为上述实际应用提供见解。此外，由于该项目包括本科生，它将为他们提供前沿研究的关键经验，并通过在会议上的演讲和学生合著的出版物传播所获得的成果，同时鼓励他们从事科学和技术事业。值得注意的是，这个项目将促进学生和教师导师之间密切的专业互动，作为耶稣会机构的基本原则cura personalis（关心整个人）的表达。

****Technical Abstract****Glass transition theories and the nature of the glassy state are considered to be unsolved problems in soft condensed matter physics. Colloidal suspensions are a model system for studying the nature of glasses and the glass transition. Two distinct colloidal glass states, driven by particle caging and particle bonding, have been observed in experiments and simulations. Since in colloidal suspensions the trajectories of colloidal particles can be followed in space and time using confocal microscopy, particle dynamics and structure will be studied to determine whether particle caging, bonding or both are important for the structural arrest of the system. This will be the focus of this project. Knowledge gained in this project will advance fundamental understanding about colloidal suspensions with various attractive strengths and volume fractions, and thus will further elucidate the nature of molecular glasses. Undergraduate students involved in this project will conduct research learning cutting edge experimental techniques such as sample preparation, microscopy, programming, and colloidal science. Obtained results will be widely disseminated by the undergraduate students through posters and talks at regional and national conferences, and through student-coauthored papers. Moreover, students involved in this project will gain insight into careers in science and technology.****Non-Technical Abstract****Complex liquids and amorphous solids such as colloidal suspensions, emulsions, liquid crystals, and polymer melts are materials encountered in every day life in a wide range of industrial branches, from the food industry to cosmetics to materials science. This experimental project explores the dynamics and structure of amorphous systems by studying suspensions of micrometer-sized particles in a liquid with varying interparticle attraction. By experimentally studying such colloidal suspensions, new results will be obtained which will confirm or refute current computer simulations and theories. Such fundamental knowledge of complex systems will aid development of new complex materials and provide insight into practical applications listed above. Furthermore, since this project includes undergraduate students, it will provide them with critical experience in cutting edge research and dissemination of obtained results through presentations at conferences and student-coauthored publications, simultaneously encouraging them towards careers in science and technology. Notably, this project will foster close professional interaction between students and the faculty mentor as an expression of cura personalis (care for the entire person), a fundamental principle of Jesuit institutions.