Berlin 2015 – scientific programme

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DY: Fachverband Dynamik und Statistische Physik

DY 58: Poster - Fluids

DY 58.1: Poster

Thursday, March 19, 2015, 16:00–18:00, Poster A

Optimal Mixing in Thin Liquid Films — •Michael Winkler and Markus Abel — Statistical Physics and Chaos Theory, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany

Films are nanoscopic elements of foams, emulsions and suspensions, and form a paradigm for nanochannel transport that eventually tests the limits of hydrodynamic descriptions. The complex interplay of thermal convection, interface and gravitational forces yields optimal turbulent mixing and transport.

Our experimental setup allows to capture thin film interference patterns under controlled surface and atmospheric conditions. The convection is realized by placing a cooled copper rod in the center of the film. The temperature gradient between the rod and the liquid film at ambient temperature results in a density gradient, so that the varying buoyancy induces turbulent motion.

Here we present the statistical analysis of a stable two eddy convection pattern by calculating the entropy and Lyapunov exponents and compare to the maximally possible mixing efficiency. Additionally, conditional probabilities for the center jet deflection are analyzed to look for deterministic components.