Signatures of non-equilibrium statistical physics in optically driven colloidal suspension

Colloidal suspensions are ideal for the experimental study of statistical mechanics, since they allow characterization both on the single particle level and on the ensemble level. Using optical tweezers we are able to drive these suspensions out of equilibrium in different ways and in a controlled manner to study the characteristics of different non-equilibrium steady states (NESS). We compare and contrast these different experiments to look for universal traits of such NESS.