Chaotic mixing in cross-channel micromixers

In this article we concentrate on a particular micromixer that exploits chaotic trajectories to achieve mixing. The micromixer we consider here is a cross-channel intersection, in which a main stream is perturbed by an oscillatory flow, driven by an external source. Depending on the amplitude and frequency of the oscillatory flow, one obtains wavy and chaotic regimes, reminiscent of a tendril-whorl mapping. The chaotic states, in which material lines are stretched and folded, favour mixing. A spatiotemporal resonance phenomenon, in which the material-line deformation is transient, is shown. An experiment using soft lithography and integrated valves, in which the resonant states are revealed, is described. From a practical viewpoint, the cross-channel micromixer offers a variety of regimes, which can be exploited to mix fluids or separate particles of different sizes. In the context of microsystems, it can be viewed as a 'smart' elementary system.