Electrokinetic forces small particles

AC electric fields and includes dielectrophoresis (DEP), travelling wave dielectrophoresis (twDEP) and electrorotation (ROT). Generally, non-uniform electric fields are used in AC electrokinetics. The assumption that the uniform field solution for the dipole moment is valid, is referred to as the dipole moment approximation, and is sufficient if the size of the particle is small compared to the scale of the electric field non-uniformity, which is true for most cases. In this chapter, we describe the forces on particles due to the action of AC fields, and discuss applications for manipulation of particles. We finish with a discussion of scaling effects. 

Electroacoustics — Ultrasound passing through a colloidal dispersion forces the colloidal particles to move back and forth, which leads to a displacement of the double layer around the particles with respect to their centers, and thus induces small electric dipoles. The sum of these dipoles creates a macroscopic AC voltage with the frequency of the sound waves. The latter is called the Colloid Vibration Potential (CVP) [i]. The reverse effect is called Electrokinetic Sonic Amplitude (ESA) effect [ii]. See also Debye effect. 

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