Abstract
In two-phase microfluidics, droplets often undergo deformations that drive them away from their circular equilibrium shape. Herein we concentrate on the relaxation of symmetrical deformations to a circle driven by surface tension effects, which are predominant at the micrometer scales. Working in a Hele-Shaw cell, we report a generic pathway for these types of relaxations. We simulate numerically the interface shape evolution and investigate it using linear stability analysis. Finally, we characterize this universal aspect of relaxation using a purely geometrical model that is tested in experiments.
Original language | English (US) |
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Article number | 043009 |
Journal | Physical Review E - Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics |
Volume | 88 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Oct 22 2013 |
Externally published | Yes |
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Statistical and Nonlinear Physics
- Statistics and Probability