Hydrodynamics of droplet lattices in quasi 2D free-standing liquid crystal films

Paper number

IAC-18,A2,6,5,x46843

Author

Mr. Christoph Klopp, Germany, Otto von Guericke University of Magdeburg

Year

2018

Abstract

In the OASIS experiment on the ISS [1], we studied colloids in two dimensions, by
means of the preparation of microdroplets on thin freely suspended liquid-crystalline
films. These droplets have a repulsive interaction, they form nearly regular triangular
lattices on the films. The layered structure in the smectic A phase allows the preparation
of thin and very homogeneous macroscopic films.
We record the motion of the droplets and calculate their diffusion characteristics.
The experiments are compared to numerical simulations of droplet assemblies, assuming
specific repulsive interaction potentials.
The mean-square displacement of the droplet positions in the lattice reveals mobilities
in the 2D fluid and information on the interaction potential. The experiment represents
a unique quasi-2D colloidal crystal.\\

The study was supported by NASA, DFG and DLR within the OASIS project.\\

[1] N. A. Clark et al., Realization of hydrodynamic experiments on quasi-2D liquid
crystal films in microgravity, ASR Volume 60, 737-751, 2017

Abstract document

IAC-18,A2,6,5,x46843.brief.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-18,A2,6,5,x46843.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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