| Colloidal dispersions are valuable model systems to understand equilibrium phase transitions such as phase separation and crystallization. When an external field or driving force is applied, the system goes towards a nonequilibrium state in a controlled way. Different effects of colloids in equilibrium and nonequilibrium will be discussed including: clustering in binary diseprsion in equilibrium, rhythmic clustering induced by a colloidal sphere driven through a nematic liquid crystal, crystal nucleation under shear. Our results are obtained by computer simulation and theory. |
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