---
_id: '120'
abstract:
- lang: eng
  text: Clustering of fine particles is of crucial importance in settings ranging
    from the early stages of planet formation to the coagulation of industrial powders
    and airborne pollutants. Models of such clustering typically focus on inelastic
    deformation and cohesion. However, even in charge-neutral particle systems comprising
    grains of the same dielectric material, tribocharging can generate large amounts
    of net positive or negative charge on individual particles, resulting in long-range
    electrostatic forces. The effects of such forces on cluster formation are not
    well understood and have so far not been studied in situ. Here we report the first
    observations of individual collide-and-capture events between charged submillimetre
    particles, including Kepler-like orbits. Charged particles can become trapped
    in their mutual electrostatic energy well and aggregate via multiple bounces.
    This enables the initiation of clustering at relative velocities much larger than
    the upper limit for sticking after a head-on collision, a long-standing issue
    known from pre-planetary dust aggregation. Moreover, Coulomb interactions together
    with dielectric polarization are found to stabilize characteristic molecule-like
    configurations, providing new insights for the modelling of clustering dynamics
    in a wide range of microscopic dielectric systems, such as charged polarizable
    ions, biomolecules and colloids.
acknowledgement: This research was supported by NSF through DMR-1309611. The Chicago
  MRSEC, supported by NSF DMR-1420709, is gratefully acknowledged for access to its
  shared experimental facilities.
author:
- first_name: Victor
  full_name: Lee, Victor
  last_name: Lee
- first_name: Scott R
  full_name: Waitukaitis, Scott R
  id: 3A1FFC16-F248-11E8-B48F-1D18A9856A87
  last_name: Waitukaitis
  orcid: 0000-0002-2299-3176
- first_name: Marc
  full_name: Miskin, Marc
  last_name: Miskin
- first_name: Heinrich
  full_name: Jaeger, Heinrich
  last_name: Jaeger
citation:
  ama: Lee V, Waitukaitis SR, Miskin M, Jaeger H. Direct observation of particle interactions
    and clustering in charged granular streams. <i>Nature Physics</i>. 2015;11(9):733-737.
    doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/nphys3396">10.1038/nphys3396</a>
  apa: Lee, V., Waitukaitis, S. R., Miskin, M., &#38; Jaeger, H. (2015). Direct observation
    of particle interactions and clustering in charged granular streams. <i>Nature
    Physics</i>. Nature Publishing Group. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/nphys3396">https://doi.org/10.1038/nphys3396</a>
  chicago: Lee, Victor, Scott R Waitukaitis, Marc Miskin, and Heinrich Jaeger. “Direct
    Observation of Particle Interactions and Clustering in Charged Granular Streams.”
    <i>Nature Physics</i>. Nature Publishing Group, 2015. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/nphys3396">https://doi.org/10.1038/nphys3396</a>.
  ieee: V. Lee, S. R. Waitukaitis, M. Miskin, and H. Jaeger, “Direct observation of
    particle interactions and clustering in charged granular streams,” <i>Nature Physics</i>,
    vol. 11, no. 9. Nature Publishing Group, pp. 733–737, 2015.
  ista: Lee V, Waitukaitis SR, Miskin M, Jaeger H. 2015. Direct observation of particle
    interactions and clustering in charged granular streams. Nature Physics. 11(9),
    733–737.
  mla: Lee, Victor, et al. “Direct Observation of Particle Interactions and Clustering
    in Charged Granular Streams.” <i>Nature Physics</i>, vol. 11, no. 9, Nature Publishing
    Group, 2015, pp. 733–37, doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/nphys3396">10.1038/nphys3396</a>.
  short: V. Lee, S.R. Waitukaitis, M. Miskin, H. Jaeger, Nature Physics 11 (2015)
    733–737.
date_created: 2018-12-11T11:44:44Z
date_published: 2015-07-13T00:00:00Z
date_updated: 2021-01-12T06:49:02Z
day: '13'
doi: 10.1038/nphys3396
extern: '1'
fulldoi: https://doi.org/10.1038/nphys3396
intvolume: '        11'
issue: '9'
language:
- iso: eng
month: '07'
oa_version: None
page: 733 - 737
publication: Nature Physics
publication_status: published
publisher: Nature Publishing Group
publist_id: '7934'
quality_controlled: '1'
status: public
title: Direct observation of particle interactions and clustering in charged granular
  streams
type: journal_article
user_id: 3E5EF7F0-F248-11E8-B48F-1D18A9856A87
volume: 11
year: '2015'
...