Microrheology of viscoelastic solutions studied by magnetic rotational spectroscopy

Magnetic rotational spectroscopy is based on the use of magnetic micron-size wires for viscosity measurements. Submitted to a rotational magnetic field with increasing frequency, the wires undergo a hydrodynamic instability between a synchronous and an asynchronous regime. From a comparison between predictions and experiments, the static shear viscosity and elastic modulus of wormlike micellar solutions are here determined. The values agree with the determination by cone-and-plate rheometry.