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arXiv · 1009.1309

Statistical Mechanics of Two-dimensional Foams

Marc Durand
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Abstract

The methods of statistical mechanics are applied to two-dimensional foams under macroscopic agitation. A new variable -- the total cell curvature -- is introduced, which plays the role of energy in conventional statistical thermodynamics. The probability distribution of the number of sides for a cell of given area is derived. This expression allows to correlate the distribution of sides ("topological disorder") to the distribution of sizes ("geometrical disorder") in a foam. The model predictions agree well with available experimental data.

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Marc Durand. 2010-09-07. Statistical Mechanics of Two-dimensional Foams. https://doi.org/10.1209/0295-5075%2F90%2F60002

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