Flow‐Driven Precipitation Patterns with Microemulsions in a Confined Geometry

Spiral precipitation patterns in confined chemical gardens.

Chemical gardens are mineral aggregates that grow in three dimensions with plant-like forms and share properties with self-assembled structures like nanoscale tubes, brinicles, or chimneys at hydrothermal vents. The analysis of their shapes remains a challenge, as their growth is influenced by osmosis, buoyancy, and reaction-diffusion processes. Here we show that chemical gardens grown by injec...

Polymers in Confined Geometry

First of all I have to thank Prof. Dr. Erwin Frey arousing my interest in biological physics and giving me the opportunity to write my diploma thesis in his groups at the Hahn-Meitner-Institut Berlin. Also for very interesting discussions—and some nice chats in between—and the huge amount of help by writing this thesis. A big thanks to the small Italian.. . please, don't kick me.. . That is, a ...

Distinctive fluctuations in a confined geometry.

Spurred by recent theoretical predictions [Phys. Rev. E 69, 035102(R) (2004)10.1103/PhysRevE.69.035102; Surf. Sci. Lett. 598, L355 (2005)10.1016/j.susc.2005.09.023], we find experimentally using STM line scans that the fluctuations of the step bounding a facet exhibit scaling properties distinct from those of isolated steps or steps on vicinal surfaces. The correlation functions go as t0.15 +/-...

Amoeboid motion in confined geometry.

Many eukaryotic cells undergo frequent shape changes (described as amoeboid motion) that enable them to move forward. We investigate the effect of confinement on a minimal model of amoeboid swimmer. A complex picture emerges: (i) The swimmer's nature (i.e., either pusher or puller) can be modified by confinement, thus suggesting that this is not an intrinsic property of the swimmer. This swimmi...

Quantum phase slips in a confined geometry