Reversible coagulation of colloidal suspension in shallow potential wells: direct numerical simulation

Brownian dynamics computer simulations of aggregation in 2D colloidal suspensions are discussed. The simulations are based on the Langevin equations, pairwise interaction between colloidal particles and take into account Brownian, hydrodynamic and colloidal forces. The chosen mathematical model enables to predict the correct values of diffusion coefficient of freely moving particle, the mean value of kinetic energy for each particle in ensemble of interacting colloidal particles and residence times of colloidal particles inside the potential wells of different depths. The simulations allow monitoring formation and breakage of clusters in a suspension as well as time dependence of the mean cluster size.