Bifurcations in complex fluids
Ingo Rehberg
Universität Bayreuth
Abstract:
The dynamic behavior of complex fluids in the neighborhood of bifurcation points is considered as particularly interesting, because here small changes of external parameters lead to a maximal response. Moreover, the reaction of the fluid if often accompanied by symmetry breaking processes, which can be experimentally detected with great precision. In particular, we will present measurements of the reorientation of liquid crystalline gels under electric fields, of the dynamic response of magnetic fluids to a change of external magnetic fields, and instabilities of a sand bed in a circular conveyor.