Hexatic order and surface ripples in spherical geometries.

Area of Science:

• Physics
• Materials Science
• Soft Matter Physics

Background:

• Two-dimensional hexatic order minimally affects capillary waves and undulation modes in flat geometries.
• Extended bond-orientational order is a key characteristic of certain liquid and soft matter systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the influence of extended bond-orientational order on the long-wavelength spectrum of ripples in spherical geometries.
• To explore the potential detectability of these spectral shifts in various physical systems.
• To examine the effect of hexatic order on charge-induced fission instability.

Main Methods:

• Theoretical calculation of frequency shifts in ripple spectra due to hexatic order.
• Analysis of systems exhibiting two-dimensional hexatic order, including lipid bilayer vesicles, liquid metal surfaces, and multielectron bubbles in liquid helium.
• Investigation of the threshold for charge-induced fission instability.

Main Results:

• Extended bond-orientational order significantly alters the long-wavelength spectrum of ripples in spherical geometries.
• The calculated frequency shifts are potentially detectable in lipid bilayer vesicles, liquid metal surfaces, and multielectron bubbles.
• Hexatic order shifts the threshold for fission instability in charge-stressed systems.

Conclusions:

• Bond-orientational order plays a crucial role in the dynamics of curved interfaces, particularly in spherical geometries.
• The findings suggest new avenues for experimental detection and characterization of hexatic order in diverse physical systems.
• Hexatic order influences the stability of charged liquid surfaces and interfaces.