Freely suspended smectic films with in-plane temperature gradients

Ralf Stannarius*, Torsten Trittel, Christoph Klopp, Alexey Eremin, Kirsten Harth, Noel A. Clark, Cheol S. Park, Joseph E. MacLennan

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

8 Citations (Scopus)
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Abstract

Freely suspended smectic films with in-plane temperature inhomogeneities can exhibit remarkable thermocapillary (Marangoni) effects. The temperature dependence of the surface tension s(T) promotes flow in the film plane, convection roll patterns, and climbing of smectic layers against gravitational forces.Wediscuss several experimental geometries where macroscopic material transport is driven by temperature gradients, including experiments under normal gravity and observations in microgravitation during suborbital rocket flights and on the International Space Station. In all these experiments, the temperature dependence of the surface tension drives unidirectional material flow. The divergence of this flow near the hot and cold film edges, and at the boundaries of film islands in the film, is associated with the creation, motion and removal of dislocations. These dissipative processes limit the flow velocity.

Original languageEnglish
Article number063033
JournalNew journal of physics
Volume21
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 21 Jun 2019

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