Exponentially Fast Thinning of Nanoscale Films by Turbulent Mixing
- Films are nanoscopic elements of foams, emulsions, and suspensions that 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 time scale analysis, we identify mixing as the dominant dynamical process responsible for exponential thinning. DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.110.094501
| Author details: | M. Winkler, G. Kofod, R. Krastev, S. Stoeckle, M. W. Abel |
|---|---|
| DOI: | https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.110.094501 |
| ISSN: | 0031-9007 |
| Title of parent work (English): | PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS |
| Publisher: | AMER PHYSICAL SOC |
| Place of publishing: | COLLEGE PK |
| Publication type: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Year of first publication: | 2013 |
| Publication year: | 2013 |
| Release date: | 2017/03/26 |
| Volume: | 110 |
| Issue: | 9 |
| Number of pages: | 5 |
| Funding institution: | NSF [NSF PHY05-51164]; cost action "Particles in Turbulence’’ [806]; German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) [03X5511 KompAkt (WING-NanoFutur)] |
