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Dynamic self-assembly of magnetized, millimetre-sized objects rotating at a liquid-air interface
Spontaneous pattern formation by self-assembly is of long-standing and continuing interest not only for its aesthetic appeal, but also for its fundamental and technological relevance. So far, the study of self-organization processes has mainly focused on static structures, but dynamic systems-those...
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Published in: | Nature (London) 2000-06, Vol.405 (6790), p.1033-1036 |
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Main Authors: | , , |
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Subjects: | |
Citations: | Items that this one cites Items that cite this one |
Online Access: | Get full text |
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Summary: | Spontaneous pattern formation by self-assembly is of long-standing and continuing interest not only for its
aesthetic appeal, but also for its fundamental
and technological relevance. So far, the study of self-organization
processes has mainly focused on static structures, but dynamic systems-those that develop order only when dissipating energy-are
of particular interest for studying complex behaviour.
Here we describe the formation of dynamic patterns of millimetre-sized magnetic
disks at a liquid-air interface, subject to a magnetic field produced
by a rotating permanent magnet. The disks spin around their axes with angular
frequency equal to that of the magnet, and are attracted towards its axis
of rotation while repelling each other. This repulsive hydrodynamic interaction
is due to fluid motion associated with spinning; the interplay between attractive
and repulsive interactions leads to the formation of patterns exhibiting various
types of ordering, some of which are entirely new. This versatile system should
lead to a better understanding of dynamic self-assembly, while providing a
test-bed for stability theories of interacting point vortices
and vortex patches. |
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ISSN: | 0028-0836 1476-4687 |
DOI: | 10.1038/35016528 |