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Related Concept Videos

Potential Due to a Polarized Object01:29

Potential Due to a Polarized Object

A neutral atom consists of a positively charged nucleus surrounded by a negatively charged electron cloud. When placed in an external electric field, the external electric force pulls the electrons and nucleus apart, opposite to the intrinsic attraction between the nucleus and the electrons. The opposing forces balance each other with a slight shift between the center of masses of the nucleus and the electron cloud, resulting in a polarized atom. On the other hand, a few molecules, like water,...
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Phase Behavior of Charged Vesicles Under Symmetric and Asymmetric Solution Conditions Monitored with Fluorescence Microscopy
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Force dipoles and stable local defects on fluid vesicles.

Jemal Guven1, Pablo Vázquez-Montejo

  • 1Instituto de Ciencias Nucleares, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México Apdo. Postal 70-543, 04510 México D.F., México. jemal@nucleares.unam.mx

Physical Review. E, Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics
|May 18, 2013
PubMed
Summary

External forces deform fluid vesicles, creating energy and stress distributions. Geometric singularities signal these forces, with radial tension and lateral compression observed, impacting membrane mechanics.

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Published on: January 19, 2020

Area of Science:

  • Physics
  • Materials Science
  • Biophysics

Background:

  • Fluid vesicles are model systems for biological membranes.
  • Understanding membrane deformation under external forces is crucial for cellular processes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide an exact description of a fluid vesicle deformed by external forces.
  • To analyze the energy distribution and stress within the deformed vesicle.
  • To investigate the role of geometric singularities and their impact on membrane behavior.

Main Methods:

  • Utilizing conformal invariance of bending energy to analyze vesicle deformation.
  • Identifying energy distribution and stress patterns.
  • Analyzing curvature singularities and their relation to external forces.
  • Comparing stress distribution with quadratic approximations.

Main Results:

  • Local minima of energy were identified, with degenerate states due to zero modes.
  • Logarithmic curvature singularities indicate external forces, with magnitude inversely proportional to distance S.
  • Vesicle geometry exhibits distinct behaviors near singularities, between points, and in distant regions.
  • Radial tension and lateral compression were observed, with a crossover in the intermediate region.

Conclusions:

  • The study provides a detailed geometric and energetic description of deformed fluid vesicles.
  • Conformal invariance is a powerful tool for understanding membrane stress and energy.
  • Geometric singularities are key indicators of applied forces and influence membrane mechanics significantly.
  • The findings offer insights into the limitations of simplified models for membrane behavior.