Force-induced diffusion in microrheology

Abstract

We investigate the force-induced diffusive motion of a tracer particle inside a glass-forming suspension when a strong external force is applied to the probe (active nonlinear microrheology). A schematic model of mode-coupling theory introduced recently is extended to describe the transient dynamics of the probe particle, and used to analyze recent molecular-dynamics simulation data. The model describes non-trivial transient displacements of the probe before a steady-state velocity is reached. The external force also induces diffusive motion in the direction perpendicular to its axis. We address the relation between the transverse diffusion coefficient D⊥ and the force-dependent nonlinear friction coefficient ζ. Non-diffusive fluctuations in the direction of the force are seen at long times in the MD simulation, while the model describes cross-over to long-time diffusion.