Radiation force exerted on nanometer size non-resonant Kerr particle by a tightly focused Gaussian beam

We calculate the radiation force that is exerted by a focused continuous-wave Gaussian beam of wavelength λ on a non-absorbing nonlinear particle of radius a ? 50λ/π. The refractive index of the mechanically-rigid particle is proportional to the incident intensity according to the electro-optic Kerr effect. The force consists of two components representing the contributions of the electromagnetic field gradient and the light scattered by the Kerr particle. The focused intensity distribution is determined using expressions for the six electromagnetic components that are corrected to the fifth order in the numerical aperture (NA) of the focusing objective lens. We found that for particles with a < λ/21.28, the trapping force is dominated by the gradient force and the axial trapping force is symmetric about the geometrical focus. The two contributions are comparable with larger particles and the axial trapping force becomes asymmetric with its zero location displaced away from the focus and towards the beam propagation direction. We study the trapping force behavior versus incident beam power, NA, λ, and relative refractive index between the surrounding liquid and the particle. We also examine the confinement of a Kerr particle that exhibits Brownian motion in a focused beam. Numerical results show that the Kerr effect increases the trapping force strength and significantly improves the confinement of Brownian particles.     

Scaling theory of polymer thermodiffusion

The motion of a linear polymer chain in a good solvent under a temperature gradient is examined theoretically by breaking up the flexible chain into Brownian rigid rods, and writing down an equation of motion for each rod. The motion is driven by two forces. The first one is Waldmann’s thermophoretic force (stemming from the departure of the solvent’s molecular-velocity distribution from Maxwell’s equilibrium distribution) which here is extrapolated to a dense medium. The second force is due to the fact that the viscous friction varies with position owing to the temperature gradient, which brings an important correction to the Stokes law of friction. We use scaling considerations relying upon disparate length scales and omitting non-universal numerical prefactors. The present scaling theory is compared with recent experiments on the thermodiffusion of polymers and is shown to account for (i) the existence of both signs of the thermodiffusion coefficient of long chains, (ii) the order of magnitude of the coefficient, (iii) its independence of the chain length in the high-polymer limit and (iv) its dependence on the solvent viscosity.     

Kinetic theory of inhomogeneous diffusion

This paper theoretically investigates particle diffusion in a medium where the diffusivity depends on position. We exclusively consider continuous-time, continuous-space transport and our working tool is the linear kinetic theory pertinent to guest particles in a passive host medium (Lorentz’s picture of transport). The host medium may or may not thermalize the guest particles. It may be inhomogeneous in two ways: either particle scattering features depend on position in an explicit way (geometric inhomogeneity), or they depend on position through the medium’s local temperature (thermal inhomogeneity). When the inhomogeneity is geometric, it is found that Fick’s law is valid and the particle-current equation exhibits drift without current. When the inhomogeneity is thermal, current without drift is possible, but there is no generally valid pattern for the current equation. The consistency of our results with non-equilibrium thermodynamics is brought out. The results shed light on thermodiffusion (the Ludwig-Soret effect), which often combines inhomogeneities of both kinds. Finally, a limitation of the Lorentz picture of transport in accounting for thermodiffusion is outlined.     

Zur Theorie der Teilchenbewegung in zeitabhängigen elektromagnetischen Feldern

The Langevin equation – i.e. the equation of motion for a charged particle including a collision term proportional to the particle velocity – is solved for arbitrary time-dependent electric and magnetic fields by a new general method. Instead of the usual ansatz: particle velocity = cyclotron velocity + drift velocity the method given makes the ansatz: particle velocity = tensor = cyclotron velocity. The unknown tensor obeys a simple differential equation of the first order which can be generally solved at once. This method is a modification of the variation of constants method for inhomogeneous differential equations. The electromagnetic fields considered must be spatially homogeneous; for (weakly) inhomogeneous fields an iteration procedure of Pytte (1962) may be applied. Some examples are discussed shortly. The Langevin equation treated is completely equivalent to the equation of motion in a magnetohydrodynamic one-fluid theory.     

Diffraction in the semiclassical approximation to Feynman's path integral representation of the Green function

We derive the semiclassical approximation to Feynman's path integral representation of the energy Green function of a massless particle in the shadow region of an ideal obstacle in a medium. The wavelength of the particle is assumed to be comparable to or smaller than any relevant length of the problem. Classical paths with extremal length partially creep along the obstacle and their fluctuations are subject to non-holonomic constraints. If the medium is a vacuum, the asymptotic contribution from a single classical path of overall length L to the energy Green function at energy E is that of a non-relativistic particle of mass E/c² moving in the two-dimensional space orthogonal to the classical path for a time τ=L/c. Dirichlet boundary conditions at the surface of the obstacle constrain the motion of the particle to the exterior half-space and result in an effective time-dependent but spatially constant force that is inversely proportional to the radius of curvature of the classical path. We relate the diffractive, classically forbidden motion in the “creeping” case to the classically allowed motion in the “whispering gallery” case by analytic continuation in the curvature of the classical path. The non-holonomic constraint implies that the surface of the obstacle becomes a zero-dimensional caustic of the particle's motion. We solve this problem for extremal rays with piecewise constant curvature and provide uniform asymptotic expressions that are approximately valid in the penumbra as well as in the deep shadow of a sphere.     

Dielectrophoresis of nanocolloids: A molecular dynamics study

Dielectrophoresis (DEP), the motion of polarizable particles in non-uniform electric fields, has become an important tool for the transport, separation, and characterization of microparticles in biomedical and nanoelectronics research. In this article we present, to our knowledge, the first molecular dynamics simulations of DEP of nanometer-sized colloidal particles. We introduce a simplified model for a polarizable nanoparticle, consisting of a large charged macroion and oppositely charged microions, in an explicit solvent. The model is then used to study DEP motion of the particle at different combinations of temperature and electric field strength. In accord with linear response theory, the particle drift velocities are shown to be proportional to the DEP force. Analysis of the colloid DEP mobility shows a clear time dependence, demonstrating the variation of friction under non-equilibrium. The time dependence of the mobility further results in an apparent weak variation of the DEP displacements with temperature.     

A Hamiltonian Model for Linear Friction in a Homogeneous Medium

 We introduce and study rigorously a Hamiltonian model of a classical particle moving through a homogeneous dissipative medium at zero temperature in such a way that it experiences an effective linear friction force proportional to its velocity (at small speeds). The medium consists at each point in a space of a vibration field modelling an obstacle with which the particle exchanges energy and momentum in such a way that total energy and momentum are conserved. We show that in the presence of a constant (not too large) external force, the particle reaches an asymptotic velocity proportional to this force. In a potential well, on the other hand, the particle comes exponentially fast to rest in the bottom of the well. The exponential rate is in both cases an explicit function of the model parameters and independent of the potential. Received: 18 July 2001 / Accepted: 20 April 2002 Published online: 12 August 2002     

Drift velocity in the necklace model for reptation in a two-dimensional square lattice

We report the chain dynamics in the necklace model that mimics the reptation of a chain of N particles in a two-dimensional square lattice. We focus on the drift velocity under an applied static field. The characteristics of the model allow us to determine the effects of the forces on the chains and the resulting mechanisms that affect the drift velocity. Results obtained through Monte Carlo simulations were analyzed and discussed and distinct regimes as a function of the force strength and N were identified. We found that for small total applied forces, the drift velocity scales as 1/N. When the applied force to every particle is small but the total applied force is not, the tube deforms in such a way that the drift velocity does not depend on N. Large forces, applied to every particle, can straight chains such that the distance between the chain ends increases faster than the number of particles. Also, large forces can deform the chain within the tube what is directly related to a decrease of the drift velocity.     

The Faraday law of induction for an arbitrarily moving charge

The Faraday law of electromagnetic induction for an arbitrarily moving charge is generalized and the expression for the force acting on the charge in an alternating magnetic field is obtained. It is shown that besides the Lorentz force perpendicular to the velocity of the particle, the Faraday force parallel to the particle velocity and proportional to it is acting on the charge, too. The equations of motion of the charged particle and the magnetic moment are obtained in the time-varying magnetic field. The problems of induction acceleration of charged particles (betatron) and induction heating of medium (plasma, plasma betatron) are considered.     

On the gravitational motion of a nonuniformly heated solid particle in a gaseous medium

The steady motion of a nonuniformly heated spherical aerosol particle through a viscous gaseous medium is theoretically studied in the Stokes approximation. It is assumed that the mean temperature of the particle surface may differ appreciably from the ambient temperature. The solution of gasdynamic equations yields an analytical expression for the drag of the medium and the gravitational fall velocity of the nonuniformly heated spherical solid particle with allowance for the temperature dependence of the density of the medium and molecular transfer coefficients (viscosity and thermal conductivity). Numerical estimates show that heating of the particle surface considerably influences the drag force and gravitational fall velocity.     

Zur Theorie der Bewegung geladener Teilchen in richtungskonstanten Magnetfeldern exponentieller Zeitabhängigkeit. III. Allgemeine Schaltprozesse

The motion of a charged particle in a magnetic field is calculated for the following case: the spatially homogeneous magnetic field having a constant direction is a superposition of a field constant in time and one decreasing exponentially in time; taken into account is the influence of the electric field induced by the time dependent magnetic field and a friction force proportional to the particle velocity. The higher transcendental functions appearing in the exact solutions are approximated in various ways in dependence on the values of argument and parameters. In this manner approximated formulae of a very simple form are obtained for position, velocity, kinetic energy and magnetic moment of the particle, and the domain of validity of these formulae is determined. The particle orbits are classified, and their dependence on the initial values, parameters of the magnetic field and on the magnitude of the friction force is studied. A comparison between our results and a rectangular variation of the field is given. It is shown that the electric field induced by the time dependent magnetic field has an important influence on the particle motion.     

气温和颗粒密度对声场中颗粒动力学影响的数值模拟

综合考虑黏性夹带力、Basset力、虚拟质量力和压力梯度力,建立颗粒在声场中的动力学模型,利用变步长四阶RungeKutta算法和二阶隐式Adams插值算法对颗粒的受力和运动进行数值模拟。将模拟和实验得到的颗粒运动特性进行对比,验证数值模拟的正确性。在此基础上,研究气温和颗粒密度对颗粒动力学的影响规律。结果表明,黏性夹带力对颗粒运动起主导作用;气温升高,压力梯度力与黏性夹带力之间的相位差减小,Basset力、虚拟质量力与黏性夹带力之间的相位差增大。研究还发现,气温较低时,颗粒密度对颗粒运动有重要影响,夹带系数随着密度的增加而迅速下降;气温较高时,颗粒密度对颗粒运动的影响较小,颗粒位移振幅和夹带系数相对低温时明显增加。      

Mass, energy, and the electron

The two-component solutions of the Dirac equation currently in use are not separately a particle equation or an antiparticle equation. We present a unitary transformation that uncouples the four-component, force-free Dirac equation to yield a two-component spinor equation for the force-free motion of a relativistic particle and a corresponding two-component, time-reversed equation for an antiparticle. The particle-antiparticle nature of the two equations is established by applying to the solutions of these two-component equations criteria analogous to those applied for establishing the four-component particle and antiparticle solutions of the four-component Dirac equation. Wave function solutions of our two-component particle equation describe both a right and a left circularly polarized particle. Interesting characteristics of our solutions include spatial distributions that are confined in extent along directions perpendicular to the motion, without the artifice of wave packets, and an intrinsic chirality (handedness) that replaces the usual definition of chirality for particles without mass. Our solutions demonstrate that both the rest mass and the relativistic increase in mass with velocity of the force-free electron are due to an increase in the rate of Zitterbewegung with velocity. We extend this result to a bound electron, in which case the loss of energy due to binding is shown to decrease the rate of Zitterbewegung.     

双颗粒在溶解条件下沉降的多相流动特性

对牛顿流体内溶解双颗粒在垂直管道中的沉降运动进行了直接数值模拟. 流体运动由守恒方程计算, 密度和黏性的变化考虑流场温度变化的影响, 通过积分粘性应力和压力获得颗粒的受力跟踪颗粒运动, 溶解引起的相变及其形状的变化由溶解潜热、溶解质量与分散相边界处的温度梯度的关系建立的方程决定. 通过颗粒和流体间相互的作用力和力矩及边界条件的施加实现相间耦合. 对双颗粒在等温流体无溶解条件和非等温流体溶解条件下的沉降过程进行了计算. 结果表明, 在一定雷诺数内, 热对流产生的颗粒尾迹处涡的脱落以及溶解引起的颗粒质量、颗粒表面形态的变化引起了颗粒的横向摆动, 并使颗粒沉降速度发生了变化.     

Osmotic propulsion: the osmotic motor

A model for self-propulsion of a colloidal particle--the osmotic motor--immersed in a dispersion of "bath" particles is presented. The nonequilibrium concentration of bath particles induced by a surface chemical reaction creates an osmotic pressure imbalance on the motor causing it to move. The ratio of the speed of reaction to that of diffusion governs the bath particle distribution which is employed to calculate the driving force on the motor, and from which the self-induced osmotic velocity is determined. For slow reactions, the self-propulsion is proportional to the reaction velocity. When surface reaction dominates over diffusion the osmotic velocity cannot exceed the diffusive speed of the bath particles. Implications of these features for different bath particle volume fractions and motor sizes are discussed. Theoretical predictions are compared with Brownian dynamics simulations.     

一种新的光子多普勒速度频谱分析方法

光子多普勒速度计可给出飞层表面某一速度带内颗粒群速度随时间演化的频谱数据, 在冲击动力学实验尤其是微喷射及其混合研究中得到广泛应用. 本文提出一种新的光子多普勒频谱数据分析方法, 可推断出混合区厚度变化和前端等效颗粒尺度. 利用该方法, 对一些典型状态下喷射混合速度频谱开展分析, 获得了不同冲击压力、气体条件下颗粒度数据, 证实了气体环境下喷射颗粒的气动破碎现象, 以及破碎后尺度与初始条件的依赖性, 为喷射混合物理规律研究提供了重要依据.     

On the variable order dynamics of the nonlinear wake caused by a sedimenting particle

In this work we develop a variable order (VO) differential equation of motion for a spherical particle sedimenting in a quiescent viscous liquid. In particular, we examine the various force terms in the equation of motion and propose a new form for the history drag acting on the particle. We show that the variable order formulation allows for an effective way to express the dynamic transition of the dominant forces over the entire time of the motion of the particle from rest to terminal velocity. The use of VO operators also allows us to examine the evolving dynamics of the wake during sedimentation. Using numerical data from a finite element simulation of a sedimenting particle, we first solve for the order of the derivative that returns the correct decay of the history force. We then propose a relatively simple expression for the history force that is a function of the Reynolds number and particle-to-fluid density ratio. The new history drag expression correlates very well (R²>0.99) with the numerical data for terminal Reynolds numbers ranging from 2.5 to 20, and for particle-to-fluid density ratios of interest in practice (1<β<10).     

Force approach to radiation reaction

The difficulty of the usual approach to deal with the radiation reaction is pointed out, and under the condition that the radiation force must be a function of the external force and is zero whenever the external force be zero, a new and straightforward approach to radiation reaction force and damping is proposed. Starting from the Larmor formula for the power radiated by an accelerated charged particle, written in terms of the applied force instead of the acceleration, an expression for the radiation force is established in general, and applied to the examples for the linear and circular motion of a charged particle. This expression is quadratic in the magnitude of the applied force, inversely proportional to the speed of the charged particle, and directed opposite to the velocity vector. This force approach may contribute to the solution of the very old problem of incorporating the radiation reaction to the motion of the charged particles, and future experiments may tell us whether or not this approach point is in the right direction.     

Zur Theorie der Bewegung geladener Teilchen in richtungskonstanten Magnetfeldern exponentieller Zeitabhängigkeit. II. Ausschaltvorgang ohne und mit Reibung

The motion of a charged particle in a magnetic field is calculated for the following case: the spatially homogeneous magnetic field having a constant direction decreases exponentially in time (switch-off process); taken into account is the influence of the electric field and a friction force proportional to the particle velocity. The higher transcentendal functions appearing in the exact solution are approximated in various ways in dependence on the values of argument and parameters. In this manner approximated formulae of a very simple form are obtained for position, velocity, kinetic energy and magnetic moment of the particle. The particle orbits are classified and their dependence on the initial values, parameters of the magnetic field and on the magnitude of the friction force is studied. A comparison between our results and a rectangular variation of the field shows that the latter is not a good approximation for a really exponential decreasing field. A detailed investigation shows that the electric field induced by the time dependent magnetic field has an important influence on the particle motion.