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Center for Nonlinear Studies |
I present an overview of different types of novel collective dynamical systems that can be realized in systems of collectively interacting particles in the presence of an ordered substrate. For superconducting vortices, we find that interesting gating and jamming phenomena can occur for periodic pinning arrays coexisting with channel geometries and crossed dc drives. Colloidal particles interacting with periodic optical trap arrays can exhibit both a polarized switching effect similar to liquid crystals and a martensitic switching where the system can change its global symmetry. Finally, I show that asymmetric periodic substrates can be used to create a ratchet effect in swimming bacteria, making it possible to create topotaxis systems and opening a new avenue for creating dynamical nanostructures.