Comparison of thermal fluctuations in foam films and bilayer structures

TL;DR

This paper compares thermal fluctuations in foam films and lipid bilayer structures, revealing significant differences due to their distinct elastic properties, based on calculations within DLVO theory.

Contribution

It provides a comparative analysis of capillary wave fluctuations in two different thin film models considering their elastic properties.

Findings

Different fluctuation behaviors in foam films and bilayer structures.

Elastic properties critically influence capillary wave amplitudes.

Numerical results highlight key physical parameter dependencies.

Abstract

In the frames of the DLVO theory the root mean square amplitude and correlation length of capillary waves in thin liquid films are calculated. Their dependencies on some important physical parameters are studied. Two models are considered: films with classical interfaces and films between lipid bilayers. The performed numerical analysis demonstrates essential difference in their behavior, which is due to the different elastic properties of the film surfaces in the models.