Ba. Grzybowski et al., Dynamic self-assembly of magnetized, millimetre-sized objects rotating at a liquid-air interface, NATURE, 405(6790), 2000, pp. 1033-1036
Spontaneous pattern formation by self-assembly is of long-standing(1-3) and
continuing interest(4,5) not only for its aesthetic appeal(6,7), but also
for its fundamental(8-18) and technological relevance(19). So far, the stud
y of self-organization processes has mainly focused on static structures, b
ut dynamic systems(20-22) - those that develop order only when dissipating
energy - are of particular interest for studying complex behaviour(23,24).
Here we describe the formation of dynamic patterns of millimetre-sized magn
etic disks at a liquid-air interface, subject to a magnetic field produced
by a rotating permanent magnet. The disks spin around their axes with angul
ar frequency equal to that of the magnet, and are attracted towards its axi
s of rotation while repelling each other. This repulsive hydrodynamic inter
action is due to fluid motion associated with spinning; the interplay betwe
en attractive and repulsive interactions leads to the formation of patterns
exhibiting various types of ordering, some of which are entirely new. This
versatile system should lead to a better understanding of dynamic self-ass
embly, while providing a test-bed for stability theories of interacting poi
nt vortices(25-28) and vortex patches(29).