DFG Priority Program SPP 1164
Nano- & Microfluidics:
Bridging the Gap between
Molecular Motion and Continuum Flow
Small-scale particle advection, manipulation and mixing: beyond the hydrodynamic scale
| Project Leader: | Dr. Arthur Straube Universität Potsdam Professur für Statistische Physik und Chaostheorie Potsdam |
Summary
The goal of this project is a theoretical investigation of particle
advection, manipulation and mixing in micro- and nanoscale fluid
devices. It is planned to investigate basic questions of single- and
many- particle manipulation, collective transport effects, influence of
boundaries and interparticle interactions on the dynamics of a system
at different length scales. In addition, specific application to
concrete setups close to experimentally important situations is
planned. The main technique for particle manipulation will be
travelling wave dielectrophoresis (DEP). However, because of an
electro-vibration analogy it should be possible to extend our approach
for acoustic manipulation. In a close collaboration with experimental
groups on mixing, DEP and acoustic particle manipulation we will
consider the possibilities of capture, accumulation and focusing mixing
of particles in small-scale flows.
In the spirit of bridging the length scales, for the same problems we will apply two different techniques: (i) conventional hydrodynamics, (ii) mesoscopic multi-particle collision dynamics. Such a complementary approach is a reasonable way not only to get a deep insight into the dynamics at small scales but also to determine the limits up to which the micro mechanisms dominate and cannot be neglected, an important question that cannot be properly answered with only one technique. We will start with the analysis of the dynamics of a single particle in a fluid flow. At the second step, this consideration will be generalized for the case of many interacting particles. Next, we will concentrate on the behaviour of the system close to a boundary to study the impact of the boundary. The last basic step will be application of the studied effects and experimental implementation.
In the spirit of bridging the length scales, for the same problems we will apply two different techniques: (i) conventional hydrodynamics, (ii) mesoscopic multi-particle collision dynamics. Such a complementary approach is a reasonable way not only to get a deep insight into the dynamics at small scales but also to determine the limits up to which the micro mechanisms dominate and cannot be neglected, an important question that cannot be properly answered with only one technique. We will start with the analysis of the dynamics of a single particle in a fluid flow. At the second step, this consideration will be generalized for the case of many interacting particles. Next, we will concentrate on the behaviour of the system close to a boundary to study the impact of the boundary. The last basic step will be application of the studied effects and experimental implementation.