Non-monotonic crossover from single-file to regular diffusion in micro-channels

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • U. Siems - , University of Konstanz (Author)
  • C. Kreuter - , University of Konstanz (Author)
  • A. Erbe - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (Author)
  • N. Schwierz - , Technical University of Munich (Author)
  • S. Sengupta - , Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science (Author)
  • P. Leiderer - , University of Konstanz (Author)
  • P. Nielaba - , University of Konstanz (Author)

Abstract

The diffusion behavior of interacting particles determines the behavior of a large number of systems ranging from pedestrians crossing a road to ions passing through channels in living cells. Here we present a system in which the nature of the diffusion process varies with changes in the external conditions. We find this special behavior in a colloidal model system, consisting of micron sized particles which are confined to narrow channels and interact via induced magnetic dipoles. When the density of these particles is changed, diffusion alternates between normal Fickian behavior and single-file diffusion. This anomalous behavior is induced by the order of the particles in the restricted geometry and does not depend on the exact nature of the inter-particle interactions.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number1015
JournalScientific reports
Volume2
Publication statusPublished - 2012
Peer-reviewedYes
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas