Closed, Two Dimensional Surface Dynamics

TL;DR

This paper develops dynamic equations for closed 2D surfaces, solves them analytically, and applies the results to explain equilibrium shapes of micelles, showing good agreement with experiments and simulations.

Contribution

It introduces new dynamic equations for closed 2D surfaces and applies them to analyze micelle shapes, providing a theoretical basis for observed configurations.

Findings

Closed surfaces tend to adopt constant mean curvature shapes at equilibrium.

Theoretical micelle radii match experimental and simulation data.

Different equilibrium shapes like spherical, lamellar, and cylindrical are explained by the model.

Abstract

We present dynamic equations for two dimensional closed surfaces and analytically solve it for some simplified cases. We derive final equations for surface normal motions by two different ways. The solution of the equations of motions in normal direction indicates that any closed, two dimensional, homogeneous surface with time invariable surface energy density adopts constant mean curvature shape when it comes in equilibrium with environment. As an example, we apply the formalism to analyze equilibrium shapes of micelles and explain why they adopt spherical, lamellar and cylindrical shapes. We show that theoretical calculation for micellar optimal radius is in good agreement with all atom simulations and experiments.