Effect of heat source on the growth of dendritic drying patterns

TL;DR

This study investigates how localized heating from a laser affects dendritic drying pattern growth in biological fluids, revealing that heat source properties influence pattern dynamics and growth velocity.

Contribution

It provides experimental analysis of dendritic pattern formation under laser-induced heating in various biological fluids, highlighting the impact of heat source on growth behavior.

Findings

Growth velocity can be reduced below natural drying rates.

Different absorbers and fluids influence pattern morphology.

Localized heating alters dendritic growth dynamics.

Abstract

Shining a tightly-focused but low-powered laser beam on an absorber dispersed in a biological fluid gives rise to spectacular growth of dendritic patterns. These result from localized drying of the fluid because of efficient absorption and conduction of optical energy by the absorber. We have carried out experiments in several biologically relevant fluids and have analyzed patterns generated by different types of absorbers. We observe that the growth velocity of branches in the dendritic patterns can decrease below the value expected for natural drying.