Abstract
We study the thermal fluctuations of an optically confined probe particle, suspended in an aging
colloidal suspension, as the suspension transforms from a viscous liquid into an elastic glass. The micronsized
bead forms a harmonic oscillator. By monitoring the equal-time fluctuations of the tracer, at two
different laser powers we determine the temperature of the oscillator, To. In the ergodic liquid the
temperatures of the oscillator and its environment are equal, while in contrast, in a nonequilibrium glassy
phase we find that To substantially exceeds the bath temperature.
colloidal suspension, as the suspension transforms from a viscous liquid into an elastic glass. The micronsized
bead forms a harmonic oscillator. By monitoring the equal-time fluctuations of the tracer, at two
different laser powers we determine the temperature of the oscillator, To. In the ergodic liquid the
temperatures of the oscillator and its environment are equal, while in contrast, in a nonequilibrium glassy
phase we find that To substantially exceeds the bath temperature.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 265702 |
| Pages (from-to) | 1-4 |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| Journal | Physical Review Letters |
| Volume | 97 |
| Publication status | Published - 2006 |
Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)
- effective temperature
- GLASS
- OPTICAL TWEEZERS