title: Three-dimensional bubble clusters: shape, packing, and growth rate.
abstract: We consider three-dimensional clusters of equal-volume bubbles packed around a central bubble and calculate their energy and optimal shape. We obtain the surface area and bubble pressures to improve on existing growth laws for three-dimensional bubble clusters. We discuss the possible number of bubbles that can be packed around a central one: the "kissing problem," here adapted to deformable objects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland. simon.cox@tcd.ie
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Cox
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Graner