Parts | Days | Selection | Search | Updates | Downloads | Help

DY: Fachverband Dynamik und Statistische Physik

DY 44: Pattern Formation

DY 44.10: Talk

Thursday, March 19, 2015, 12:00–12:15, BH-N 333

Rupture dynamics of liquid crystal bubbles — •Torsten Trittel and Ralf Stannarius — Otto-von-Guericke Universität, Magdeburg, Germany

Several organic liquid materials are able to form stable free standing films. A famous example is the formation of soap bubbles. They are more or less stable objects, until the film is sufficiently disturbed, e.g. when it is punctured. Then, the whole structure becomes unstable and the bubble bursts. We investigate the rupture dynamics of bubbles made from different thermotropic liquid crystal materials by means of high speed imaging. In contrast to soap films, our smectic films have a complete different inherent structure. This structure allows to generate homogeneous films with very low thickness. Furthermore liquid crystal films are stable for days, without drainage or evaporation. In our study, we puncture liquid crystal bubbles with film thicknesses of between 10nm and 300 nm and diameters of about 15 mm. We focus on rupture velocities and the destabilization of the retracting rim into filaments.