Three-dimensional observation of Brownian particles under steady shear flow by stereo microscopy.

Abstract

Three-dimensional observation of Brownian particles under shear flow is performed with a stereo microscope to examine the nature of the Brownian motion that occurs in the presence of shear flow. From the three-dimensional trajectories of the particles, we clearly demonstrate the occurrence of anomalous diffusion in the flow direction and the coupling of the displacements in the flow and velocity gradient directions. Furthermore, we experimentally obtain the probability distribution function and current density, which also exhibit characteristic features, and compare the obtained results with theoretical results derived using the Fokker-Planck equation.