Figure 4. Microscopic particle displacements.

(a) The probability distribution function of the particle displacements calculated with a lag time equal to 40τ₀ for three ratios of k_BT/∈, blue circles represent the fully thermal regime k_BT/∈ = 10⁻³, green circles refer to the intermediate regime k_BT/∈ = 10⁻⁴ and red circles correspond to the configuration at k_BT/∈ = 0, the solid black line represents the MF prediction u^−5/2, a deviation from this purely elastic effects is seen when thermal fluctuations act on the small displacements. Snapshots of the colloidal gel network for k_BT/∈ = 10⁻³ (b) and k_BT/∈ = 0 (c), showing the interparticle bonds and the amplitude of the displacements after a rupture event.