Channel Flow of Smectic Films

TL;DR

This paper investigates the hydrodynamics of smectic films at air-water interfaces, focusing on viscous responses, coupling effects, and flow behaviors in channel geometries, with comparisons to other film types.

Contribution

It introduces a detailed analysis of the viscous response of smectic films, including coupling effects and flow regimes, expanding understanding beyond previous models.

Findings

Effective viscosity depends on flow conditions and coupling effects.

Flow behavior varies with dislocation presence and permeation modes.

Finite subphase depth influences film flow dynamics.

Abstract

The hydrodynamics of smectic films at an air-water interface is discussed, with particular focus on the viscous response of the film under flow normal to the layers. The corrections to the response functions of the smectic phase, arising from the coupling between the flow and the smectic order parameter, are calculated. The results for the effective viscosity are illustrated by analysing smectic film flow in a channel geometry. Two limiting cases of the flow, namely, motion dominated by dislocation-induced shear-softening and dislocation-free motion dominated by the permeation mode of mass transfer, are studied. The effect of drag from a finite depth liquid subphase is considered. The results are compared to those for hexatic and liquid films.