A colloidal viewpoint on the sausage catastrophe and the finite sphere packing problem
Marín-Aguilar, Susana ; Camerin, Fabrizio LU
; van der Ham, Stijn
; Feasson, Andréa
; Vutukuri, Hanumantha Rao
and Dijkstra, Marjolein
(2023)
In Nature Communications
14(1).
- Abstract
It is commonly believed that the most efficient way to pack a finite number of equal-sized spheres is by arranging them tightly in a cluster. However, mathematicians have conjectured that a linear arrangement may actually result in the densest packing. Here, our combined experimental and simulation study provides a physical realization of the finite sphere packing problem by studying arrangements of colloids in a flaccid lipid vesicle. We map out a state diagram displaying linear, planar, and cluster conformations of spheres, as well as bistable states which alternate between cluster-plate and plate-linear conformations due to membrane fluctuations. Finally, by systematically analyzing truncated polyhedral packings, we identify clusters... (More)
It is commonly believed that the most efficient way to pack a finite number of equal-sized spheres is by arranging them tightly in a cluster. However, mathematicians have conjectured that a linear arrangement may actually result in the densest packing. Here, our combined experimental and simulation study provides a physical realization of the finite sphere packing problem by studying arrangements of colloids in a flaccid lipid vesicle. We map out a state diagram displaying linear, planar, and cluster conformations of spheres, as well as bistable states which alternate between cluster-plate and plate-linear conformations due to membrane fluctuations. Finally, by systematically analyzing truncated polyhedral packings, we identify clusters of 56 ≤ N ≤ 70 number of spheres, excluding N = 57 and 63, that pack more efficiently than linear arrangements.
(Less)
- author
- Marín-Aguilar, Susana
; Camerin, Fabrizio
LU
; van der Ham, Stijn
; Feasson, Andréa
; Vutukuri, Hanumantha Rao
and Dijkstra, Marjolein
- publishing date
- 2023-12
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- in
- Nature Communications
- volume
- 14
- issue
- 1
- article number
- 7896
- publisher
- Nature Publishing Group
- external identifiers
-
- pmid:38036561
- scopus:85178193820
- ISSN
- 2041-1723
- DOI
- 10.1038/s41467-023-43722-0
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- no
- additional info
- Publisher Copyright: © 2023, The Author(s).
- id
- 01b4dc19-74f6-4cf7-b4a8-bf185fe5e774
- date added to LUP
- 2024-02-22 13:57:41
- date last changed
- 2024-09-10 13:25:27
@article{01b4dc19-74f6-4cf7-b4a8-bf185fe5e774,
abstract = {{<p>It is commonly believed that the most efficient way to pack a finite number of equal-sized spheres is by arranging them tightly in a cluster. However, mathematicians have conjectured that a linear arrangement may actually result in the densest packing. Here, our combined experimental and simulation study provides a physical realization of the finite sphere packing problem by studying arrangements of colloids in a flaccid lipid vesicle. We map out a state diagram displaying linear, planar, and cluster conformations of spheres, as well as bistable states which alternate between cluster-plate and plate-linear conformations due to membrane fluctuations. Finally, by systematically analyzing truncated polyhedral packings, we identify clusters of 56 ≤ N ≤ 70 number of spheres, excluding N = 57 and 63, that pack more efficiently than linear arrangements.</p>}},
author = {{Marín-Aguilar, Susana and Camerin, Fabrizio and van der Ham, Stijn and Feasson, Andréa and Vutukuri, Hanumantha Rao and Dijkstra, Marjolein}},
issn = {{2041-1723}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{1}},
publisher = {{Nature Publishing Group}},
series = {{Nature Communications}},
title = {{A colloidal viewpoint on the sausage catastrophe and the finite sphere packing problem}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-43722-0}},
doi = {{10.1038/s41467-023-43722-0}},
volume = {{14}},
year = {{2023}},
}