Single-file diffusion and kinetics of template-assisted assembly of colloids

C Mondal and S Sengupta, PHYSICAL REVIEW E, 85, 020402 (2012).

DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevE.85.020402

We report computer simulation studies of the kinetics of ordering of a two-dimensional system of particles on a template with a one-dimensional periodic pattern. In equilibrium, one obtains a reentrant liquid-solid- liquid phase transition as the strength of the substrate potential is varied. We show that domains of crystalline order grow as similar to t(1/z), with z similar to 4, with a possible crossover to z similar to 2 at late times. We argue that the t(1/4) law originates from single-file motion and annihilation of defect pairs of opposite topological charge along channels created by the template.

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