DOI: 10.1140/epje/i2002-10126-9
Topological changes in a two-dimensional foam cluster
S.J. Cox1, M.F. Vaz2 and D. Weaire11 Physics Department, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland
2 Instituto de Ciência de Materiais e Superfícies and Departamento de Engenharia de Materiais, Instituto Superior Técnico, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1096 Lisboa Codex, Portugal
simon.cox@tcd.ie
(Received 18 October 2002 / Received in final form 19 March 2003 / Published online: 21 May 2003)
Abstract
Experiments on a small cluster of bubbles in a nominally
two-dimensional foam show an instability in which a topological change
forces one of the bubbles to be ejected to the outside of the cluster
at a point where this is not predicted by a two-dimensional model of a
foam. This is interpreted in terms of the energy of the initial and
ejected states and of the finite liquid content of the experimental
system. A description of the distribution of liquid in various
experimental set-ups suggests that the exact response may depend
critically upon the type of system used. This is demonstrated
experimentally with reference to small clusters of bubbles undergoing
a single topological change.
82.70.Rr - Aerosols and foams.
46.32.+x - Static buckling and instability.
© EDP Sciences, Società Italiana di Fisica, Springer-Verlag 2003