Statistical mechanics of vesicles, membranes and interfaces
Statistical mechanics of vesicles, membranes and interfaces
A variety of theoretical and numerical methods are used to investigate the statistical mechanical properties of vesicles, membranes and interfaces. The study of vesicles, membranes and interfaces is a small part of the more general study of exotic structures. Understanding the structure and properties of these exotic phases has important applications in many diverse fields, from food stabilization and improvement to enhanced oil recovery. Several models of vesicles in two dimensions are briefly discussed. A continuum model of vesicles due to Ostrowsky and Peyraud is investigated further. The model is extended and a detailed scaling analysis of the effects of osmotic pressure and curvature on the shape polydispersity is presented. These results are compared and contrasted with results from an altenative model. The vesicle is subjected to a nematic ordering field to simulate the effect of a shear flow field. A model of membranes and interfaces confined between hard parallel walls is discussed. Analytical extensions to the current state of the literature are discussed. The models are studied numerically by Monte Carlo simulation and the results are analysed to establish the consistency of the new analytical arguements. Twisted and helical lipid membrane stuctures have been observed to form from lipid membranes whose molecules are chiral. Recent attempts to explain these structures have relied on mean field theory. A statistical mechanical simulation model is devised that should be a useful tool for studying these chiral membranes. The model is investigated for long thin membranes and diamond shaped membranes. The results are analysed systematically and typical membrane configurations are presented.
University of Southampton
Norman, Robert Ellis
4268d76b-8b66-46a8-aa82-2ea7ad824286
1993
Norman, Robert Ellis
4268d76b-8b66-46a8-aa82-2ea7ad824286
Norman, Robert Ellis
(1993)
Statistical mechanics of vesicles, membranes and interfaces.
University of Southampton, Doctoral Thesis.
Record type:
Thesis
(Doctoral)
Abstract
A variety of theoretical and numerical methods are used to investigate the statistical mechanical properties of vesicles, membranes and interfaces. The study of vesicles, membranes and interfaces is a small part of the more general study of exotic structures. Understanding the structure and properties of these exotic phases has important applications in many diverse fields, from food stabilization and improvement to enhanced oil recovery. Several models of vesicles in two dimensions are briefly discussed. A continuum model of vesicles due to Ostrowsky and Peyraud is investigated further. The model is extended and a detailed scaling analysis of the effects of osmotic pressure and curvature on the shape polydispersity is presented. These results are compared and contrasted with results from an altenative model. The vesicle is subjected to a nematic ordering field to simulate the effect of a shear flow field. A model of membranes and interfaces confined between hard parallel walls is discussed. Analytical extensions to the current state of the literature are discussed. The models are studied numerically by Monte Carlo simulation and the results are analysed to establish the consistency of the new analytical arguements. Twisted and helical lipid membrane stuctures have been observed to form from lipid membranes whose molecules are chiral. Recent attempts to explain these structures have relied on mean field theory. A statistical mechanical simulation model is devised that should be a useful tool for studying these chiral membranes. The model is investigated for long thin membranes and diamond shaped membranes. The results are analysed systematically and typical membrane configurations are presented.
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Published date: 1993
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Local EPrints ID: 462363
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/462363
PURE UUID: b79aafa1-e2ee-43f5-bded-0d4ac27e0d56
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Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 18:55
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Author:
Robert Ellis Norman
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