Triennale in Fisica Cluster versus single - particle hopping in a colloidal model

We study a two-dimensional model for interacting colloids which is consistent with cluster states, adding a periodic corrugation potential and an external force. For different colloidal densities and different amplitude of the periodic corrugation potential we investigate the depinning from the static to the sliding regime. In the sliding states we characterize the competition between a dynamics where entire clusters are pulled from a minimum to the next and a dynamics where single colloids or smaller groups leave a cluster and move across the corrugation barrier to join the next cluster. Advisor: Prof. Nicola Manini Co-Advisor: Prof. Luciano Reatto