Trochoidal trajectories of self-propelled Janus particles in a diverging laser beam. Issue 30 (24th June 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Moyses, Henrique; Palacci, Jérémie; Sacanna, Stefano; Grier, David G.
• Is Part Of: Soft matter. Volume 12:Issue 30(2016)
• Page Start: 6357
• Page End: 6364
• Publication Date: 2016-06-24
• Subjects: Soft condensed matter -- Periodicals; 530.413
• DOI: 10.1039/c6sm01163b
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1744-683X

Abstract

Abstract : We describe colloidal Janus particles with hematite and dielectric faces that swim vigorously when illuminated by defocused optical tweezers without consuming any chemical fuel. Abstract : We describe colloidal Janus particles with metallic and dielectric faces that swim vigorously when illuminated by defocused optical tweezers without consuming any chemical fuel. Rather than wandering randomly, these optically-activated colloidal swimmers circulate back and forth through the beam of light, tracing out sinuous rosette patterns. We propose a model for this mode of light-activated transport that accounts for the observed behavior through a combination of self-thermophoresis and optically-induced torque. In the deterministic limit, this model yields trajectories that resemble rosette curves known as hypotrochoids.