Microscopic engine powered by critical demixing
Date
2018
Editor(s)
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Supervisor
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Source Title
Physical Review Letters
Print ISSN
0031-9007
Electronic ISSN
Publisher
American Physical Society
Volume
120
Issue
6
Pages
068004-1 - 068004-5
Language
English
Type
Journal Title
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Abstract
We experimentally demonstrate a microscopic engine powered by the local reversible demixing of a critical mixture. We show that, when an absorbing microsphere is optically trapped by a focused laser beam in a subcritical mixture, it is set into rotation around the optical axis of the beam because of the emergence of diffusiophoretic propulsion. This behavior can be controlled by adjusting the optical power, the temperature, and the criticality of the mixture.