Shear-induced critical dynamics in a nonionic micellar solution

Shear-induced critical dynamics in a nonionic micellar solution has been investigated by measuring the viscosity η as a function of the shear rate S and a characteristic crossover temperature associated with S. The viscosity very close to ${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{c}}$ varies as ${\mathit{S}}^{\mathrm{-}\mathrm{\omega }}$ with ω=0.021±0.003 in excellent agreement with the expected value of ω=0.021. We also find a simple scaling relation between the temperature dependence and shear-rate dependence of η. In addition, we confirm the feasibility of observing phase-separation dynamics near the critical point by shear quenching.