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BioMEMS and Cellular Biology: Perspectives and Applications
Published on: October 1, 2007
Towards active microfluidics: Interface turbulence in thin liquid films with floating molecular machines
Sergio Alonso1, Alexander S Mikhailov
1Abteilung Physikalische Chemie, Fritz-Haber-Institut der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, Faradayweg 4-6, 14195 Berlin, Germany.
Summary
Microscopic protein machines in thin liquid films can create interface turbulence. When energy supply exceeds a threshold, these active machines drive instability, leading to chaotic waves and clusters.
Area of Science:
- Physics of active matter
- Fluid dynamics
- Soft condensed matter
Background:
- Active protein machines, acting as microscopic swimmers, generate propulsion forces at the air-liquid interface.
- These forces arise from cyclic mechanical motions within the machines.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the transition from a stable to an unstable interface regime driven by active machines.
- To characterize the resulting interface turbulence and its underlying mechanisms.
Main Methods:
- Theoretical analysis of linear instability.
- Numerical simulations of the nonlinear regime of interface turbulence.
- Exploration of conditions for experimental observation.
Main Results:
- A threshold in energy supply rate is identified for interface instability.
- Instability leads to a turbulent regime with irregular traveling waves.
- Propagating clusters of active machines are observed within the turbulent interface.
Conclusions:
- Active protein machines can destabilize thin liquid film interfaces.
- The study establishes conditions for interface turbulence driven by microscopic swimmers.
- Experimental validation of these findings is feasible and discussed.
