Project description
Colloidal crystal interactions under scrutiny
Recent research has demonstrated that colloidal crystals display characteristics similar to living organisms such as self-replication, self-healing, adaptation, competition and motility. The aim of the EU-funded Ph.D. project is to further investigate how dynamic adaptive colloidal crystals behave far from equilibrium, and how to control interactions down to nanometre scale. In this context, researchers will employ an ultrafast laser to drive a quasi-2D confined colloidal system far from thermodynamic equilibrium. The team expect to observe the formation of a rich set of dynamic adaptive colloidal crystals from pure polystyrene spheres of 500 nm diameter. Uncovering the principles of complex, dynamic adaptive systems will have important implications in a number of different fields including microfluidics, biology and nanoscience.
Objective
We recently reported the first observation of dynamic adaptive colloidal crystals exhibiting characteristics similar to those commonly associated with living organisms: self-replication, self-healing, adaptation, competition, motility. Here, I propose to do the first experiments to clarify precisely how dynamic adaptive behavior arises far from equilibrium and how to control it. The key to both is a fundamental question at the heart of condensed matter, statistical and nonlinear physics: When far from equilibrium, in the presence of fluctuations and faced with multiple steady states with small energy differences, how does a system evolve? Specifically, my objectives are (1) to form crystals with periodic and aperiodic patterns, e.g. 2D Bravais lattices, quasicrystals, using passive identical particles, (2) to quantify their formation energies through the effective temperature of Brownian particles, (3) to identify the conditions for emergence and control of adaptive behavior. Then, I will draw a complete phase map of these dynamic adaptive colloidal crystals using fitness landscapes to characterize each pattern. I will further ask to what extent this control is extendable down to the few-nm scale, where fluctuations are even stronger and if and how these findings change when using nonidentical, in size or shape, but still passive particles. My system comprises quasi-2D-confined pure-polystyrene 500-nm spheres suspended in water. An energy flux to drive the system far from equilibrium and sustain it there is supplied by an ultrafast laser. My method exploits only three physical tenets, nonlinearity, fluctuations and positive/negative feedback mechanisms acting on identical passive particles, yet generates extremely rich emergent dynamics. A full understanding of how such dynamics arise from so few basic ingredients will advance our understanding of complex systems in addition to numerous practical applications to self-assembly, microfluidics, nanoscience and biology.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences physical sciences classical mechanics fluid mechanics microfluidics
- natural sciences physical sciences optics laser physics ultrafast lasers
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Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)
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Topic(s)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
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Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
ERC-STG - Starting Grant
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Call for proposal
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2019-STG
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44801 Bochum
Germany
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