Non-equilibrium structure of rotationally driven dipoles: The role of the simulation method

Abstract

Dipolar colloidal particles in a rotating biaxial field tend to form layer-like structures in the plane of the field. In this manuscript, we compare Molecular dynamics (MD) and Brownian dynamics (BD) simulations results of rotationally driven dipoles. Our goal is to understand the differences in the dynamics predicted by these two simulation methods when the strength and the driving frequency of the field are varied. In particular, we compare the layer formation behaviour in MD and BD by investigating its breakdown at a constant field strength and its onset at a constant rotational frequency of the field.