Amit Chakrabarti
Professor
Address:	325 Cardwell Hall
Phone:	(785) 532-1625
E-mail:	amitc@phys.ksu.edu
Personal Webpage
Ph.D. University of Minnesota, 1987
M.Sc. University of Calcutta, India, 1982

Research Area

Theoretical Condensed Matter Physics
In a wide variety of natural and technical settings small particles in a dispersed phase come together to form larger clusters when the small particle system becomes, by some manner, unstable. From a broad perspective, the “particles” can be atoms, ions, or molecules, as well as colloidal particles, and the transition from a dispersed phase to clusters can include the formation of precipitated crystalline solids from solutions as well as the formation of fractal aggregates in colloids and aerosols.

Formation of condensed, crystalline solids or open, random aggregates represent the equilibrium and nonequilibrium limits of this transition. Parts of this grand problem have seen considerable previous research such as limiting nonequilibrium models of aggregation and gelation, models of spinodal decomposition and nucleation, and early studies of growth during precipitation. However, a general theory that encompasses all these related phenomena is lacking.

We are trying to bridge this gap between the equilibrium and nonequilibrium limits by a focused combination of theoretical and experimental efforts. Chakrabarti’s group is carrying out both large scale Monte Carlo and molecular dynamics simulations of realistic models while Sorensen’s group is carrying out experimental studies of aggregation and superlattice formation in a variety of surface ligated nanoparticles.

Our combined theoretical and experimental effort allows us to attack problems from different perspectives, lends a creative element to the work, and often leads to progress on more than one front or at least make progress in one direction when others have stalled. Furthermore, with our theory/experiment collaboration, our work aspires to establish a sound theoretical description for the new phenomena observed in experiments.

Research Support

• NASA
• National Science Foundation

Recent Selected Publications

• Computer simulation of diffusion-limited cluster-cluster aggregation with an Epstein drag force, F. Pierce, C.M. Sorensen, and A. Chakrabarti, Phys. Rev. E. 74, 021411 (2006).
• Hybrid superaggregate morphology as a result of aggregation in a cluster-dense aerosol, R. Dhaubhadel, F. Pierce, A. Chakrabarti, C.M. Sorensen, Phys. Rev. E, 73, 011404 (2006).
• Aggregation-Fragmentation in a Model of DNA-Mediated Colloidal Assembly, F. Pierce, C.M. Sorensen, and A. Chakrabarti, Langmuir, 21, 8992 (2005).
• Excluded volume effects on polymer adsorption onto spherical surfaces, J.J. Cerda, T. Sintes, A. Chakrabarti, Macromolecules, 38, 1469 (2005)
• Multiple-scattering effects on light scattering optical structure factor measurements, T. Mokhtari, C.M. Sorensen, and A.Chakrabarti, Appl. Opt. 44, 7858 (2005).
• Patterns in Mie Scattering:evolution when normalized by the Rayleigh cross-section, M.J. Berg, C.M. Sorensen, and A.Chakrabarti, Appl. Opt. 44, 7487 (2005).

full publication list