Journal Article

FZJ-2015-05009

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Collective waves in dense and confined microfluidic droplet arrays

Schiller, U. D. (Corresponding author) ; Fleury, J.-B. ; Seemann, R. ; Gompper, G.FZJ*

2015
Royal Soc. of Chemistry London

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Please use a persistent id in citations: http://hdl.handle.net/2128/22849  doi:10.1039/C5SM01116G

Abstract: Excitation mechanisms for collective waves in confined dense one-dimensional microfluidic droplet arrays are investigated by experiments and computer simulations. We demonstrate that distinct modes can be excited by creating specific ‘defect’ patterns in flowing droplet trains. Excited longitudinal modes exhibit a short-lived cascade of pairs of laterally displacing droplets. Transversely excited modes obey the dispersion relation of microfluidic phonons and induce a coupling between longitudinal and transverse modes, whose origin is the hydrodynamic interaction of the droplets with the confining walls. Moreover, we investigate the long-time behaviour of the oscillations and discuss possible mechanisms for the onset of instabilities. Our findings demonstrate that the collective dynamics of microfluidic droplet ensembles can be studied particularly well in dense and confined systems. Experimentally, the ability to control microfluidic droplets may allow the modulation of the refractive index of optofluidic crystals, which is a promising approach for the production of dynamically programmable metamaterials.

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. Theorie der Weichen Materie und Biophysik (IAS-2)
2. Theorie der Weichen Materie und Biophysik (ICS-2)

Research Program(s):

1. 551 - Functional Macromolecules and Complexes (POF3-551) (POF3-551)

Appears in the scientific report 2015

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Database coverage:
; ; Current Contents - Physical, Chemical and Earth Sciences ; IF < 5 ; JCR ; SCOPUS ; Science Citation Index ; Science Citation Index Expanded ; Thomson Reuters Master Journal List ; Web of Science Core Collection

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