Limitation of stochastic rotation dynamics to represent hydrodynamic interaction between colloidal particles

Stochastic Rotation Dynamics (SRD) is a valuable numerical tool extensively used in many domains of hydrodynamics simulations including colloidal suspensions. We investigate the dynamics of two colloidal particles in the regime of low Reynolds number by means of SRD in 3D. In contrast to well-known analytical and experimental results, no long-range interaction between the suspended particles could be found, independent of the size of the particles and the Mach and Peclet numbers. We attribute this behavior to the compressible nature and low sound velocity in the SRD solvent. The inability of representing long-range interactions poses an important limitation to the applicability of SRD to certain physical systems. We provide an estimation of typical length scales for which SRD can be applied. Published by AIP Publishing.