APS Logo

Temperature-gradient-induced thermomigration in smectic liquid crystal bubbles and freely suspended films in microgravity

ORAL

Abstract

In-plane temperature gradients were applied to tethered smectic bubbles on the ISS during the OASIS mission and to thin freely-suspended smectic films during suborbital rocket flights in order to study the Marangoni effect in a 2D fluid in microgravity. Tethered bubbles of smectic A liquid crystal were inflated in a temperature-controlled chamber. An emulsion of islands subsequently generated on the bubble with an air jet was initially homogeneously distributed over the entire bubble surface. When the inflation syringe was heated, however, the islands moved away from the point of heating, with the island velocity decreasing as they migrated away from the syringe. The islands appear to be moving with the background film, not as a direct consequence of the thermal gradient. In flat films, on the other hand, in-plane temperature gradients were observed to cause two specific Marangoni effects, directed flow and convection patterns.
[1] T. Trittel, et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 122, 234501 (2019) [2] R. Stannarius et al., New J. Phys. 21, 063033 (2019).

–

Presenters

  • Noel Anthony Clark

    Physics and Soft Materials Research Center, University of Colorado Boulder, University of Colorado, Boulder, Department of Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, Physics and Soft Materials Research Center, University of Colorado

Authors

  • Noel Anthony Clark

    Physics and Soft Materials Research Center, University of Colorado Boulder, University of Colorado, Boulder, Department of Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, Physics and Soft Materials Research Center, University of Colorado

  • Cheol Park

    Physics and Soft Materials Research Center, University of Colorado Boulder, Physics and Soft Materials Research Center, University of Colorado

  • Eric Minor

    Physics and Soft Materials Research Center, University of Colorado Boulder

  • Joseph E MacLennan

    Physics and Soft Materials Research Center, University of Colorado Boulder, University of Colorado, Boulder, Department of Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, Physics and Soft Materials Research Center, University of Colorado

  • Matthew Glaser

    Physics and Soft Materials Research Center, University of Colorado Boulder, University of Colorado, Boulder, Department of Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, Institute of Solid State Physics, Otto von Guericke University

  • Torsten Trittel

    Institute of Solid State Physics, Otto von Guericke University

  • Alexey Eremin

    Institute of Solid State Physics, Otto von Guericke University

  • Kirsten Harth

    Institute of Solid State Physics, Otto-von-Guericke Universitat, Institute of Solid State Physics, Otto von Guericke University

  • Ralf Stannarius

    Institute of Solid State Physics, Otto von Guericke University