Numerical study on the dynamics of driven disordered colloids

Abstract

Using Langevin simulations, we numerically investigate the dynamics of driven two-dimensional colloids subject to randomly distributed pointlike pinning centers. Increasing the strength of pinning centers, we find a crossover from elastic to plastic depinnings, where a substantial increase in the depinning force is observed. The influence of temperature is examined, and we find a dynamic melting transition from the moving smectic to the moving liquid at high driving forces. A peak is found in the dynamic critical driving force across the transition, accompanied by a crossing of velocity-force dependence curves.