Fluid Dynamics

Howard A. Stone, Alison M. Forsyth, Jiandi Wan, Physics 2, 89 (2009) – Published October 26, 2009

Fluid Dynamics Biological Physics

Simulations provide insight into how viscous flow transforms the shapes of red blood cells, which may influence their physiological properties.

Thomas Schäfer, Physics 2, 88 (2009) – Published October 26, 2009

Atomic & Molecular Physics Particles & Fields Fluid Dynamics

Is there a fundamental lower bound on viscosity? To answer this question, we can look at the coldest and hottest fluids that laboratories are able to produce.

Mattias Marklund, Lennart Stenflo, Physics 2, 86 (2009) – Published October 19, 2009

Optics Fluid Dynamics

How freak or rogue waves form in the ocean is not well understood, but new investigations suggest a mechanism for these waves that may also allow formation of high-intensity pulses in optical fibers.

Published October 5, 2009

Fluid Dynamics Nanophysics

Rotating electric fields can power the flow of water along a nanochannel.

Guenter Ahlers, Physics 2, 74 (2009) – Published September 14, 2009

Fluid Dynamics

Convection in a fluid heated from below, known as Rayleigh-Bénard convection, is an important turbulent process that occurs in the sun, planetary atmospheres, industrial manufacturing, and many other places. Physicists and engineers have made much progress in understanding this phenomenon in simple laboratory geometries, but still have a way to go before they are able to extrapolate to the extreme conditions often encountered in nature.

Natalia Berloff, Boris Svistunov, Physics 2, 61 (2009) – Published July 20, 2009

Atomic & Molecular Physics Fluid Dynamics

Chaotic matter waves formed by perturbing a Bose-Einstein condensate may provide a valuable laboratory setting for understanding many different kinds of quantum-fluid turbulence.

Published April 13, 2009

Fluid Dynamics Soft Matter

Scaling laws are a useful way to characterize fluid flow over a wide range of flow rates and experimental conditions. Theorists now explain several earlier experiments by finding a scaling law that describes how a liquid-liquid interface changes shape when driven by viscous forces.

Published December 22, 2008

Fluid Dynamics Nonlinear Dynamics

A magnetic field can control the speed with which waves move on the surface of a ferrofluid. Scientists take advantage of this capability to explore new regimes of wave turbulence.

Vitor Cardoso, Physics 1, 38 (2008) – Published December 1, 2008

Fluid Dynamics

From the nucleus to black holes, the model of a spinning liquid drop can describe the physics of a large number of systems. With diamagnetic levitation, it is possible to accurately study the many shapes a rapidly rotating liquid drop can take and compare the results against theoretical predictions.

Published December 1, 2008

Fluid Dynamics

Turbulent states in a pipe do eventually decay, but you may have to wait for an extremely long time to prove it.

Todd Squires, Physics 1, 30 (2008) – Published October 20, 2008

Fluid Dynamics Biological Physics

Some of the most ingenious ideas for designing microfluidic systems come from observing plants and animals. A study that quantifies the protein-driven helical flow of liquid in large plant cells, for instance, may well inspire micron-scale liquid mixers and sensors.

Joseph J. Niemela, Physics 1, 26 (2008) – Published October 6, 2008

Superfluidity Quantum Mechanics Fluid Dynamics

Images of vortex motion in superfluid helium reveal connections between quantum and classical turbulence and may lead to an understanding of complex flows in both superfluids and ordinary fluids.

Detlef Lohse, Physics 1, 18 (2008) – Published September 8, 2008

Fluid Dynamics

A novel dimensionless parameter allows prediction of whether dispersed particles in a turbulent flow enhance or attenuate the turbulence.