Rapid Fire
Hyperuniformity
- 22 Oct 2024
- 1 min read
Researchers have explored the mechanism behind the emerging property of a recently discovered exotic disordered state of matter, known as “hyperuniformity”.
- About Hyperuniformity: It is a property of certain heterogeneous media where long-wavelength density fluctuations decay to zero.
- Hyperuniform disordered materials are observed in quasicrystals, large-scale cosmic structures, biological emulsions, and colloids.
- Mechanism Behind Hyperuniformity:
- In hyperuniform systems, suppressed density fluctuations result from a conservation law that limits particle mobility, explaining the reduced mass fluctuations as system size grows.
- Comparison to Critical Point of Liquids:
- Hyperuniform matter contrasts with liquid critical points, where mass fluctuations diverge and cause critical opalescence.
- In hyperuniform matter, mass fluctuations are suppressed, positioning it between a crystal, amorphous solid, and liquid.
- Potential Applications of Hyperuniform Materials:
- Hyperuniform materials have unique properties with potential technological and biological applications, including energy-efficient photonic devices for data transmission and controlling cellular functions.
