Effects of an embedding bulk fluid on phase separation dynamics in a thin liquid film

• Published in: Europhysics letters Vol. 89; no. 5; p. 56001
• Main Authors: Ramachandran, S, Komura, S, Gompper, G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: IOP Publishing 01-03-2010; EDP Sciences
• Subjects: 68.05.-n; 87.16.D; 87.16.dp; Dynamics; Exponents; Fluid dynamics; Fluid flow; Fluids; Liquid films; Phase separation; Three dimensional; Two dimensional
• ISSN: 0295-5075; 1286-4854
• DOI: 10.1209/0295-5075/89/56001

Using dissipative-particle-dynamics simulations, we study the effects of an embedding bulk fluid on the phase separation dynamics in a thin planar liquid film. The domain growth exponent is altered from 2D to 3D behavior upon the addition of a bulk fluid, even though the phase separation occurs in 2D geometry. Correlated diffusion measurements in the film show that the presence of bulk fluid changes the nature of the longitudinal coupling diffusion coefficient from logarithmic to algebraic dependence of 1/s, where s is the distance between the two particles. This result, along with the scaling exponents, suggests that the phase separation takes place through the Brownian coagulation process.