Dresden 2020 – scientific programme

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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik

BP 13: Cell Mechanics I

BP 13.5: Talk

Tuesday, March 17, 2020, 10:45–11:00, SCH A251

Rayleigh-Plateau instability of anisotropic biological interfaces — •Katharina Grässel, Christian Bächer, and Stephan Gekle — Biofluid Simulation and Modeling, Theoretische Physik VI, Universität Bayreuth

Tubular vesicles under tension are known to undergo a pearling instability similar to the Rayleigh-Plateau instability of a liquid jet. We extend the classical model for this Rayleigh-Plateau instability to treat complex interfaces with anisotropic surface tension, as found in cells. We do so both in the limit of high and low Reynolds number and accordingly cover both liquid jet and vesicle behaviour. Combining theory and simulations we show that the dominant instability wavelength is determined by the anisotropy of the surface tension. We further show that including bending elasticity of vesicle membranes has negligible influence for isotropic tension, but strongly affects or even completely suppresses the instability if the tension is anisotropic. Our results can be highly relevant for vesicles or tissues with anisotropic interfacial properties.