Exponentially fast Thinning of Nanoscale Films by Turbulent Mixing
Abstract
Films are nanoscopic elements of foams, emulsions and suspensions, and form a paradigm for nanochannel transport that eventually tests the limits of hydrodynamic descriptions. Here, we study the collapse of a freestanding film to its equilibrium. The generation of nanoscale films usually is a slow linear process; using thermal forcing we find unprecedented dynamics with exponentially fast thinning. The complex interplay of thermal convection, interface and gravitational forces yields optimal turbulent mixing and transport. Domains of collapsed film are generated, elongated and convected in a beautiful display of chaotic mixing. With a timescale analysis we identify mixing as the dominant dynamical process responsible for exponential thinning.
Keywords
Cite
@article{arxiv.1112.4150,
title = {Exponentially fast Thinning of Nanoscale Films by Turbulent Mixing},
author = {Michael Winkler and Guggi Kofod and Rumen Krastev and Silke Stöckle and Markus Abel},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1112.4150},
year = {2018}
}
Comments
accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. Lett