Asymmetric fluctuations and self-folding of active interfaces

We study the structure and dynamics of the interface separating a passive fluid from a microtubule-based active fluid. Turbulent-like active flows power giant interfacial fluctuations, which exhibit pronounced asymmetry between regions of positive and negative curvature. Experiments, numerical simul...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inarXiv.org
Main Authors Zhao, Liang, Gulati, Paarth, Caballero, Fernando, Kolvin, Itamar, Adkins, Raymond, Marchetti, M Cristina, Dogic, Zvonimir
Format Paper
LanguageEnglish
Published Ithaca Cornell University Library, arXiv.org 05.07.2024
Subjects
Active control
Asymmetry
Droplets
Dynamic structural analysis
Fluid flow
Formability
Interface stability
Liquid-liquid interfaces
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Summary:We study the structure and dynamics of the interface separating a passive fluid from a microtubule-based active fluid. Turbulent-like active flows power giant interfacial fluctuations, which exhibit pronounced asymmetry between regions of positive and negative curvature. Experiments, numerical simulations, and theoretical arguments reveal how the interface breaks up the spatial symmetry of the fundamental bend instability to generate local vortical flows that lead to asymmetric interface fluctuations. The magnitude of interface deformations increases with activity: In the high activity limit, the interface self-folds invaginating passive droplets and generating a foam-like phase, where active fluid is perforated with passive droplets. These results demonstrate how active stresses control the structure, dynamics, and break-up of soft, deformable, and reconfigurable liquid-liquid interfaces.
ISSN:2331-8422