Dynamics of uniaxial hard ellipsoids

Abstract

We study the dynamics of monodisperse hard ellipsoids via a new event-driven molecular dynamics algorithm as a function of volume fraction $\varphi$ and aspect ratio $X_0$. We evaluate the translational $D_{trans}$ and the rotational $D_{rot}$ diffusion coefficient and the associated isodiffusivity lines in the $\varphi -X_0$ plane. We observe a decoupling of the translational and rotational dynamics which generates an almost perpendicular crossing of the $D_{trans}$ and $D_{rot}$ isodiffusivity lines. While the self intermediate scattering function exhibits stretched relaxation, i.e. glassy dynamics, only for large $\varphi$ and $X_0\approx 1$, the second order orientational correlator $C_2(t)$ shows stretching only for large and small $X_0$ values. We discuss these findings in the context of a possible pre-nematic order driven glass transition.

accepted by Phys. Rev. Lett

References in corpus (1)

• Novel crystal phase in suspensions of hard ellipsoids

Cited by in corpus (2)

• Glassy dynamics in monodisperse hard ellipsoids
• Entropy-driven phase transition in a system of long rods on a square lattice