Coalescence Dynamics of Fluids in Two Dimensions: Merging of Islands in Freely-Suspended Smectic Films

ORAL

Abstract

Smectic liquid crystal films a few molecular layers thick that are freely suspended in air are used as a model system to study the coalescence of fluids in two dimensions. High-speed video microscopy is used to study the coalescence of islands, thicker, disk-shaped regions of the film bounded by edge dislocations. The early time growth of the bridge connecting the merging islands is essentially linear, while at long times the relaxation dynamics are exponential. The observations are compared with Hopper’s classical hydrodynamic model of the coalescence of two infinitely long, fluid cylinders [Journal of the American Ceramic Society 76, 2947 (1993)] and with models appropriate to quasi-two dimensional fluids developed by Mann [ Phys. Rev. E 51, 5708 (1995)] and Camley [Biophysical Journal 99, L44 (2010)] to explain their observations of domain relaxation in Langmuir films.

*This work was supported by NASA Grant No. NNX-13AQ81G and by the Soft Materials Research Center under NSF MRSEC Grant Nos. DMR-0820579 and NSF Grant DMR-1420736, and by DLR Grants OASIS-Co 50WM1430 and 50WM1744 and DFG Grant STA 425/40

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Presenters

  • Joseph E MacLennan

    • Physics and Soft Materials Research Center, University of Colorado Boulder
    • University of Colorado, Boulder
    • Department of Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder
    • Physics and Soft Materials Research Center, University of Colorado

Authors

  • Duong Nguyen

    • Physics and Soft Materials Research Center, University of Colorado Boulder

  • Kirsten Harth

    • Institute of Solid State Physics, Otto-von-Guericke Universitat
    • Institute of Solid State Physics, Otto von Guericke University

  • Aaron Goldfain

    • Physics and Soft Materials Research Center, University of Colorado Boulder
    • Harvard University

  • Cheol Park

    • Physics and Soft Materials Research Center, University of Colorado Boulder
    • Physics and Soft Materials Research Center, University of Colorado

  • Joseph E MacLennan

    • Physics and Soft Materials Research Center, University of Colorado Boulder
    • University of Colorado, Boulder
    • Department of Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder
    • Physics and Soft Materials Research Center, University of Colorado

  • Matthew Glaser

    • Physics and Soft Materials Research Center, University of Colorado Boulder
    • University of Colorado, Boulder
    • Department of Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder
    • Institute of Solid State Physics, Otto von Guericke University

  • Noel Anthony Clark

    • Physics and Soft Materials Research Center, University of Colorado Boulder
    • University of Colorado, Boulder
    • Department of Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder
    • Physics and Soft Materials Research Center, University of Colorado