Eur. Phys. J. E 3, 149-157
Effect of thermal undulations on the bending elasticity and spontaneous curvature of fluid membranes
Fachbereich Physik, Freie Universität Berlin,
Arnimallee 14, D-14195 Berlin, Germany
Wolfgang.Helfrich@physik.fu-berlin.de
Received 19 April 1999 and in Received in final form 7 January 2000
Abstract
We amplify previous arguments why mean curvature should
be used as measure of integration in calculating the effective
bending rigidity of fluid membranes subjected to a weak background
curvature. The stiffening of the membrane by its fluctuations,
recently derived for spherical shapes, is recovered for
cylindrical curvature. Employing curvilinear coordinates, we then
discuss stiffening for arbitrary shapes, confirm that the elastic
modulus of Gaussian curvature is not renormalized in the presence
of fluctuations, and show for the first time that any spontaneous
curvature also remains unchanged.
PACS
68.10.Et Interface elasticity, viscosity, and viscoelasticity
- 82.65.Dp Thermodynamics of surfaces and interfaces
Copyright EDP Sciences, Società Italiana di Fisica, Springer-Verlag
