Colloidal crystals on a wire: global curvature constraints at finite temperature

ORAL

Abstract

A two dimensional crystal on the surface of a cylindrical wire is frustrated by a global commensurability constraint, and as a result typically incorporates an extended one dimensional chiral line-slip defect in its ground state. Using both experiment and simulation we investigate the kinetics of crystal growth and evolution at finite temperature, and find that single crystal regions have a characteristic length determined by minimal stability against thermal fluctuations and random stress transmitted across grain boundaries. In addition, we observe a new class of chiral defects at finite temperature that roughen the line slip and modify the effective interactions between line slip defects and grain boundaries.

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Presenters

  • William Wilkin

    Physics, Harvard University

Authors

  • William Wilkin

    Physics, Harvard University

  • Nabila Tanjeem

    Harvard University, Applied Physics, Harvard University

  • Vinothan Manoharan

    School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Harvard Univ, Harvard University, Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Physics and Chemical Engineering, Harvard University

  • Christopher Rycroft

    SEAS, Harvard Univ, Harvard University, SEAS, Harvard University, John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Harvard Univ, Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Applied Mathematics, Harvard University