Dresden 2011 – scientific programme

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CPP: Fachverband Chemische Physik und Polymerphysik

CPP 25: Colloids and Complex Liquids I - Structure

CPP 25.4: Talk

Wednesday, March 16, 2011, 11:30–11:45, ZEU 222

Crystallization and vitrification of a hard sphere like colloidal model system — Markus Franke and •Hans Joachim Schöpe — Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, Institut für Physik, Staudinger Weg 7, 55099 Mainz

A complete understanding of the solidification process is one of the long standing problems in condensed matter physics. The use of colloidal model systems provides an ideal controlled experimental system to reduce this lack of knowledge. We investigated the solidification scenario in suspensions of gravity matched colloidal hard spheres (HS) using time resolved static light scattering as well as dynamic light scattering techniques. A detailed analysis of crystal nucleation path ways shows that crystallization is originated by transient precursors (structurally heterogeneous clusters; structural heterogeneities) during the induction stage. Later these convert into highly ordered crystals in a fast, activated process. Following the same processes over a range of volume fractions from near freezing, to above the glass transition allows to systematically link the mechanisms involved in HS crystallization to those of the HS glass transition.