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Updated: Jun 14, 2026

Spatial Separation of Molecular Conformers and Clusters
Published on: January 9, 2014
Phase Separation in a Chiral Active Fluid of Inertial Self-Spinning Disks
Pasquale Digregorio1,2, Ignacio Pagonabarraga2,3, Francisco Vega Reyes4
1INFN, Sezione di Bari, Università degli studi di Bari, Dipartimento di Fisica, via Amendola 173, I-70126, Bari, Italy.
Systematic particle rotations in fluids can cause spontaneous phase separation. This rotation-induced phase separation (RIPS) occurs due to pressure feedback mechanisms in chiral fluids.
Area of Science:
- Physics
- Fluid Dynamics
- Soft Matter Physics
Background:
- Homogeneous and hydrostatic stationary states are common in fluid systems.
- Understanding spontaneous phenomena in active matter is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate spontaneous phase separation in fluids of disk-shaped spinners.
- To elucidate the mechanism behind rotation-induced phase separation (RIPS).
Main Methods:
- Theoretical analysis of particle rotations in a fluid.
- Investigating pressure feedback mechanisms and density fluctuations.
- Examining momentum transfer between rotational and translational motion.
Main Results:
- Systematic particle rotations can induce spontaneous phase separation.
- A pressure feedback mechanism amplifies local density fluctuations.
- Coexistence of low-density and dense chiral liquid phases observed.
- RIPS is driven by an imbalance between pressure and stress in chiral flows.
Conclusions:
- Rotation-induced phase separation (RIPS) is a novel nonequilibrium phenomenon.
- RIPS arises from unbalanced rotational and translational motion.
- This phenomenon is expected in chiral fluids with significant momentum transfer.
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