Seminars & Events

Computations in Science Seminar
"Nanoscale Flows on Chemical Channels"

DATE: July 18, 2007
TIME: 12:30 p.m.
SPEAKER: Joel Koplik
LOCATION: KPTC 206, University of Chicago
HOST: Leo Kadanoff

Description:
Molecular dynamics simulations are used to investigate drive
nano-scale flows of liquids along open "chemical channels": patterns of completely-wetting solid embedded in a planar substrate, and sandwiched between less wetting solid regions. Liquid placed atop a long straight wetting stripe evolves into connected "pearls," due to a Rayleigh-like surface tension instability, which propagate and merge when a pressure gradient is applied. In more complicated wetting patterns involving dividing and combining junctions, propagating pearls again appear, and exhibit intriguing stability and bifurcation behavior when the liquid flows. The numerical results in the straight-channel case are compared to a simple long-wavelength approximation and a full stability analysis based on the Stokes equations. The different approaches are qualitatively but not quantitatively consistent, which we attribute to the presence of a broad interfacial region and substantial thermal fluctuations.

More Information:
Discussion over bag-lunch at 12:15 p.m.
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