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Capillary Interfacial Tension in Active Phase Separation

Fausti, G.; Tjhung, E.; Cates, M. E.; Nardini, C.

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Authors

G. Fausti

E. Tjhung

M. E. Cates

C. Nardini



Abstract

In passive fluid-fluid phase separation, a single interfacial tension sets both the capillary fluctuations of the interface and the rate of Ostwald ripening. We show that these phenomena are governed by two different tensions in active systems, and compute the capillary tension σ cw which sets the relaxation rate of interfacial fluctuations in accordance with capillary wave theory. We discover that strong enough activity can cause negative σ cw . In this regime, depending on the global composition, the system self-organizes, either into a microphase-separated state in which coalescence is highly inhibited, or into an “active foam” state. Our results are obtained for Active Model B + , a minimal continuum model which, although generic, admits significant analytical progress.

Citation

Fausti, G., Tjhung, E., Cates, M., & Nardini, C. (2021). Capillary Interfacial Tension in Active Phase Separation. Physical Review Letters, 127(6), Article 068001. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.127.068001

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Jul 2, 2021
Online Publication Date Aug 3, 2021
Publication Date Aug 6, 2021
Deposit Date Nov 8, 2021
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal Physical Review Letters
Print ISSN 0031-9007
Electronic ISSN 1079-7114
Publisher American Physical Society
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 127
Issue 6
Article Number 068001
DOI https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.127.068001

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Copyright Statement
Reprinted with permission from the American Physical Society: Fausti, G., Tjhung, E., Cates, M. E. & Nardini, C. (2021). Capillary Interfacial Tension in Active Phase Separation. Physical Review Letters 127(6): 068001. © (2021) by the American Physical Society. Readers may view, browse, and/or download material for temporary copying purposes only, provided these uses are for noncommercial personal purposes. Except as provided by law, this material may not be further reproduced, distributed, transmitted, modified, adapted, performed, displayed, published, or sold in whole or part, without prior written permission from the American Physical Society.




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