We observed a shear-induced alignment of colloidal particles in a Brownian dynamics simulation carried out in the presence of an oscillating shear flow. As the shear rate γ is increased for temperatures near the melting point, we first observe shear thinning followed by a transition to a state with two-dimensional order in the plane perpendicular to the flow. In contrast to earlier nonequilibrium molecular-dynamics studies which also found a similar result, no thermostat is needed to keep the system stable.

• Received 27 September 1989

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.64.419