Micro, Nano, and Molecular Systems Article 2020

Characterization of active matter in dense suspensions with heterodyne laser Doppler velocimetry

Thumb ticker sm webimg
Micro, Nano, and Molecular Systems
  • Postdoctoral Researcher
Thumb ticker sm fb profile pic crop
Micro, Nano, and Molecular Systems
Thumb ticker sm peer fischer portrait
Micro, Nano, and Molecular Systems
Professor
Sh ldv

We present a novel approach for characterizing the properties and performance of active matter in dilute suspension as well as in crowded environments. We use Super-Heterodyne Laser-Doppler-Velocimetry (SH-LDV) to study large ensembles of catalytically active Janus particles moving under UV illumination. SH-LDV facilitates a model-free determination of the swimming speed and direction, with excellent ensemble averaging. In addition, we obtain information on the distribution of the catalytic activity. Moreover, SH-LDV operates away from walls and permits a facile correction for multiple scattering contributions. It thus allows for studies of concentrated suspensions of swimmers or of systems where swimmers propel actively in an environment crowded by passive particles. We demonstrate the versatility and the scope of the method with a few selected examples. We anticipate that SH-LDV complements established methods and paves the way for systematic measurements at previously inaccessible boundary conditions.

Author(s): Sachs, J. and Kottapalli, S. N. and Fischer, P. and Botin, D. and Palberg, T.
Journal: Colloid and Polymer Science
Volume: 299
Number (issue): 2
Pages: 269--280
Year: 2020
Month: August
Day: 7
Bibtex Type: Article (article)
DOI: 10.1007/s00396-020-04693-6
URL: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00396-020-04693-6
Electronic Archiving: grant_archive

BibTex

@article{Sachs2020a,
  title = {Characterization of active matter in dense suspensions with heterodyne laser Doppler velocimetry},
  journal = {Colloid and Polymer Science},
  abstract = {We present a novel approach for characterizing the properties and performance of active matter in dilute suspension as well as in crowded environments. We use Super-Heterodyne Laser-Doppler-Velocimetry (SH-LDV) to study large ensembles of catalytically active Janus particles moving under UV illumination. SH-LDV facilitates a model-free determination of the swimming speed and direction, with excellent ensemble averaging. In addition, we obtain information on the distribution of the catalytic activity. Moreover, SH-LDV operates away from walls and permits a facile correction for multiple scattering contributions. It thus allows for studies of concentrated suspensions of swimmers or of systems where swimmers propel actively in an environment crowded by passive particles. We demonstrate the versatility and the scope of the method with a few selected examples. We anticipate that SH-LDV complements established methods and paves the way for systematic measurements at previously inaccessible boundary conditions.},
  volume = {299},
  number = {2},
  pages = {269--280},
  month = aug,
  year = {2020},
  slug = {sachs2020a},
  author = {Sachs, J. and Kottapalli, S. N. and Fischer, P. and Botin, D. and Palberg, T.},
  url = {https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00396-020-04693-6},
  month_numeric = {8}
}