Effects of flow on measurements of interactions in colloidal suspensions

A hydrodynamic mechanism of interactions of colloidal particles is considered. The mechanism is based on the assumption of tiny background flows in the experimental cells during measurements by Grier et al. Both trivial (shear flow) and nontrivial (force propagation through viscous fluid) effects are taken into account for two colloidal particles near a wall bounding the solvent. Expressions for the radial (attractive or repulsive) forces and the polar torques are obtained. Quantitative estimates of the flow needed to produce the observed strength of attractive force are given; other necessary conditions are also considered. The following conclusion is made: the mechanism suggested most likely is not responsible for the attractive interactions observed in the experiments of Grier et al.; however, it may be applicable in other experimental realizations and should be kept in mind while conducting colloidal measurements of high sensitivity. Several distinctive features of the interactions due to this mechanism are identified.