2008-09 IAM-PIMS-MITACS Distinguished Colloquium Series - 01
- Date: 09/29/2008
University of British Columbia
Hydrodynamic Instabilities Mediated by Active Interfaces
Many fluid instabilities involving free surfaces are governed by
interfacial forces - for instance surface tension. However, some
materials have surface forces produced by active physical processes not
present in the bulk fluid, such as forces due to the electric charge
residing on the interface between conducting and insulating liquids. I
will give an overview of these systems, and present recent experimental
observations of instabilities due to such active or reactive
interfaces: two Newtonian fluids which react to produce a fragile
elastic material (during impact splashes or viscous fingering), and
droplets of electrolyte solution in viscous nonconducting oil, for
which oppositely charged drops do not always coalesce.
3:00-4:00pm, Room 301, Leonard S. Klinck Building (6356 Agricultural Road, UBC).
Refreshments are served in room 306 (IAM Lounge) at about 15 minutes before the talks.