UNS: Collaborative Research: Dynamics of Active Particles in Anisotropic Fluids

1510949（Cordova）1508987（Abbott）拟议研究的目标是通过实验和计算来研究复杂的各向异性活性流体的行为。活性流体是以独特的方式表现的流体，因为存在可以自组装的活性颗粒，或者可以以不同的方式移动和包装，从而赋予流体不同的宏观性质。拟议的研究可以发现新的现象，可以用于设计新的流体材料，这些材料可以响应外部环境。过去的研究主要集中在各向同性牛顿流体中的“活性胶体”的物理学上，然而活性流体的许多未来应用将需要了解它们在复杂流体中的行为。这是本提案涵盖的白色空间：流体粘弹性的各向异性如何影响涉及活性胶体的基本输运现象。第一个研究重点将集中在液晶悬浮液的各向异性环境对悬浮液内自推进颗粒的扩散率的影响。具体来说，布朗动力学（BD）模拟将与涉及跟踪单个自推进胶体Janus粒子在液晶界面的实验相结合。第二个重点将集中在各向异性流体中的活性粒子悬浮液对被动示踪粒子扩散的影响。分散在生物相容性液晶中的能动细菌将用于探索在杆状细菌运动的存在下被动颗粒如何扩散。这个实验和模拟的综合计划的总体成果将是关于复杂流体中内部产生的梯度驱动的基本传输过程的新知识。该合作小组将与波多黎各马亚圭斯大学的教师准备方案建立合作关系，以制定、传播和评估双语教育模块。建议开展教育活动，使学生接触跨文化教育经验，并为他们在不同环境中工作做好准备。将为这两个机构的学生提供一个关于软物质的跨学科课程。

1510949(Cordova) & 1508987(Abbott)The goal of the proposed research is to investigate with both experiments and computations the behavior of complex, anisotropic active fluids. Active fluids are fluids that behave in unique ways, because of the presence of active particles that can self-assemble, or can move and pack in different ways, giving different macroscopic properties to the fluid. The proposed research can uncover novel phenomena that could be exploited for design new fluid materials that are responsive to their external environment. Past studies have focused largely on the physics of "active colloids" in isotropic Newtonian fluids, yet many future applications of active fluids would require an understanding of their behavior in complex fluids. This is the white space that this proposal covers: how anisotropy in the viscoelastic properties of a fluid can impact fundamental transport phenomena involving active colloids. A first research thrust will focus on the effect of the anisotropic environment of a liquid crystal suspension has on the diffusivity of a self-propelled particle within the suspension. Specifically, Brownian Dynamics (BD) simulations will be combined with experiments involving tracking of single self-propelled colloidal Janus particles at the interface of a nematic liquid crystal. A second thrust will focus on the effects of a suspension of active particles hosted within an anisotropic fluid on the diffusion of passive tracer particles. Motile bacteria dispersed within biocompatible liquid crystals will be used to explore how passive particles diffuse in the presence of the motion of the rod-shaped bacteria. The overall outcome of this integrated program of experiment and simulation will be new knowledge regarding fundamental transport processes driven by internally generated gradients in complex fluids. The collaborating group will establish a collaboration with the Teacher Preparation Program at the University of Puerto Rico Mayaguez to develop, disseminate and assess bilingual educational modules. Educational activities are proposed to expose students to cross-cultural educational experiences and to prepare them to work in diverse settings. An interdisciplinary class on soft matter will be offered to students at both institutions.