Effect of thermal undulations on the rigidity of fluid membranes and interfaces

W. Helfrich

Thermal undulations of fluid layers, whose strength depends on layer rigidity, are shown to reduce the effective rigidity. The decrease is calculated in a first-order approximation for weak rippling. The undulation modes are defined as director waves so that the curvatures satisfy the superposition principle.

Mots clés: interface phenomena; membranes

Domaines: Articles anciens

W. Helfrich. Effect of thermal undulations on the rigidity of fluid membranes and interfaces. Journal de Physique, 1985, 46 (7), pp.1263-1268. ⟨10.1051/jphys:019850046070126300⟩. ⟨jpa-00210070⟩