Universität Wien

260014 VO Colloidal Soft Matter (2024S)

5.00 ECTS (3.00 SWS), SPL 26 - Physik
Moodle
Mo 06.05. 08:45-11:15 Seminarraum 9, Kolingasse 14-16, OG01

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Details

Language: English

Examination dates

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

Monday 04.03. 08:45 - 11:15 Seminarraum 9, Kolingasse 14-16, OG01
Monday 11.03. 08:45 - 11:15 Seminarraum 9, Kolingasse 14-16, OG01
Monday 18.03. 08:45 - 11:15 Seminarraum 9, Kolingasse 14-16, OG01
Monday 08.04. 08:45 - 11:15 Seminarraum 9, Kolingasse 14-16, OG01
Monday 15.04. 08:45 - 11:15 Seminarraum 9, Kolingasse 14-16, OG01
Monday 22.04. 08:45 - 11:15 Seminarraum 9, Kolingasse 14-16, OG01
Monday 29.04. 08:45 - 11:15 Seminarraum 9, Kolingasse 14-16, OG01
Monday 13.05. 08:45 - 11:15 Seminarraum 9, Kolingasse 14-16, OG01
Monday 27.05. 08:45 - 11:15 Seminarraum 9, Kolingasse 14-16, OG01
Monday 03.06. 08:45 - 11:15 Seminarraum 9, Kolingasse 14-16, OG01
Monday 10.06. 08:45 - 11:15 Seminarraum 9, Kolingasse 14-16, OG01
Monday 17.06. 08:45 - 11:15 Seminarraum 9, Kolingasse 14-16, OG01

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

The course aims at providing advanced Master’s students, PhD students or interested postdoctoral researchers with a thorough exposure in the basic experimental and theoretical concepts of the Physics associated with the structure and dynamics of colloids and colloidal systems. On the theory side, emphasis will be put on models of macroscopic, rigid aggregates undergoing thermal fluctuations and being exposed to hydrodynamic interactions in a microscopic solvent. On the experimental side, emphasis will be put on modern techniques using cameras and image processing.

A tentative syllabus of the Course is provided below.

INTRODUCTION
- Introduction to soft matter and colloidal forces

A PRIMER ON BROWNIAN MOTION
- The Stokes-Einstein relation, Fick’s laws of diffusion, sedimentation equilibrium, the Perrin experiment
- Math preliminaries: time and ensemble averages, fluctuations, correlation functions, structure functions

DILUTE, NON-INTERACTING COLLOIDS
- Brownian motion of a free particle: the Langevin description
- Colloidal dynamics in direct space: imaging and particle tracking; the self-van Hove function
- Colloidal dynamics in reciprocal space: the self-intermediate scattering function; Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS); Differential Dynamic Microscopy (DDM); Bonus: Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy (FCS)

DENSE INTERACTING COLLOIDS
- Spatial correlations for interacting particles: g(r), S(q) and their experimental determination
- Colloidal interactions, equations of state, virial coefficient, osmotic pressure; van’t Hoff’s law
- Dispersion forces, colloidal stabilization (steric)
- Dispersion interactions in colloids:
- Colloidal charge stabilization: Debye-Hückel theory, DLVO theory,
- Self and collective diffusion
- Navier Stokes equations
- Elements of rheophysics
- Rheology and microrheology

ADDITIONAL TOPICS (IF TIME ALLOWS)
- Brownian motion in harmonic potential: optical tweezers, active microrheology
- Static scattering: Rayleigh, Rayleigh-Gans, Mie scattering, Diffusing Wave Spectroscopy (DWS)
- Hard spheres, crystallization, entropy, Density Functional Theory (DFT)
- Vitrification: in-cage dynamics, structural relaxation, dynamical heterogeneity, Mode Coupling Theory (MCT)
- Sticky spheres: depletion interactions, liquid-gas coexistence, fractal aggregation, gelation
- Soft particles: shape, deformability, packing

Assessment and permitted materials

Assessment will be conducted via oral examination, which allows for a comprehensive view of your knowledge/abilities and gives a unique opportunity for interaction. A list of current topics in colloidal science with literature hints will be set at disposal of the participants and during the oral exam you will choose and briefly present the key paper(s) for a topic and answer questions on the paper(s) and on the corresponding course topic. You will then be asked at least one question about at least one topic different from the chosen one.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

Previous knowledge of Statistical Mechanics at the T4-level is required. The final grade will be determined by considering both the breadth and depth of the individual learning process, in terms of acquired knowledge and abilities, including the clarity and content of the presentation. Critical thinking skills will be also considered.

Examination topics

Exam topics include all the topics that are treated in the lectures. The lecture notes and the key papers are made available after each lecture on the Moodle page of the course.

Reading list

R. Borsali and R. Pecora, eds. Soft matter characterization. New York: Springer, 2008.

A. Fernandez-Nieves and A.M. Alberto, and Antonio Manuel Puertas, eds. Fluids, colloids, and soft materials: an introduction to soft matter physics. New York: Wiley, 2016.

J. K. G. Dhont, An Introduction to Dynamics of Colloids, (Elsevier, 1996).

M. Doi, Soft matter physics. Oxford University Press, 2013

J.-P. Hansen and I. R. McDonald, Theory of Simple Liquids with Applications to Soft Matter, 4th Edition (Academic Press, 2013).

J. Olafsen, ed. Experimental and Computational Techniques in Soft Condensed Matter Physics. Cambridge University Press, 2010.

W. B. Russel, D. A. Saville, and W. R. Schowalter, Colloidal Dispersions (Cambridge University Press, 1989).

M. Rubinstein and R. Colby, Polymer Physics (Oxford University Press , 2003)

D. C. Venerus and H. C. Öttinger, A Modern Course in Transport Phenomena (Cambridge University Press, 2018).

T.A. Witten and P.A. Pincus, Structured Fluids: Polymers, Colloids, Surfactants, (Oxford University Press, 2010)

Association in the course directory

M-VAF A 2, M-VAF B, PM-SPEC

Last modified: Mo 04.03.2024 11:06