Comparison of 2D and 3D images of colloidal gels

The NASA-conducted Advanced Colloidal Experiment (ACE-M-1) aimed to explore colloidal gel structures in a microgravity setting. Using the Light Microscopy Module, ACE-M-1 generated a substantial volume of 2D images depicting these gels. To conduct a thorough analysis of the structural properties, we perform comparable ground-based experiments. In these experiments, colloidal polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) particles are combined with polystyrene, serving as a depletant. Fluorescence confocal microscopy enables the capture of detailed 2D and 3D images of the colloidal gels. Our research focuses on understanding the relationship between these 2D and 3D images. Specifically, we compare the peaks of the pair correlation function, g(r), and examine the number of neighbors. Our findings reveal a positive correlation between the peaks of g(r) and the number of neighbors in 2D and 3D. However, the strength of this correlation depended on the choice of particle tracking parameters.