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arXiv · 0709.2731

Bubble Raft Model for a Paraboloidal Crystal

Mark J. Bowick·Luca Giomi·Homin Shin·Creighton K. Thomas
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Abstract

We investigate crystalline order on a two-dimensional paraboloid of revolution by assembling a single layer of millimeter-sized soap bubbles on the surface of a rotating liquid, thus extending the classic work of Bragg and Nye on planar soap bubble rafts. Topological constraints require crystalline configurations to contain a certain minimum number of topological defects such as disclinations or grain boundary scars whose structure is analyzed as a function of the aspect ratio of the paraboloid. We find the defect structure to agree with theoretical predictions and propose a mechanism for scar nucleation in the presence of large Gaussian curvature.

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Mark J. Bowick, Luca Giomi, Homin Shin, Creighton K. Thomas. 2007-09-17. Bubble Raft Model for a Paraboloidal Crystal. https://doi.org/10.1103/physreve.77.021602

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