The evolution of an initially prepared distribution of micron-sized colloidal particles, trapped at a fluid interface and under the action of their mutual capillary attraction, is analyzed by using Brownian dynamics simulations. At a separation λ given by the capillary length of typically 1 mm, the distance dependence of this attraction exhibits a crossover from a logarithmic decay, formally analogous to two-dimensional gravity, to an exponential decay. We discuss in detail the adaptation of a particle-mesh algorithm, as used in cosmological simulations to study structure formation due to gravitational collapse, to the present colloidal problem. These simulations confirm the predictions, as far as available, of a mean-field theory developed previously for this problem. The evolution is monitored by quantitative characteristics which are particularly sensitive to the formation of highly inhomogeneous structures. Upon increasing λ the dynamics shows a smooth transition from the spinodal decomposition expected for a simple fluid with short-ranged attraction to the self-gravitational collapse scenario. © EDP Sciences / Società Italiana di Fisica / Springer-Verlag 2011.
CITATION STYLE
Bleibel, J., Domínguez, A., Oettel, M., & Dietrich, S. (2011). Collective dynamics of colloids at fluid interfaces. European Physical Journal E, 34(11). https://doi.org/10.1140/epje/i2011-11125-5
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