title: Manipulation of the Saffman-Taylor instability: a curvature-dependent surface tension approach.
abstract: A variant of the classic Saffman-Taylor instability problem is reported, in which the surface tension at the fluid-fluid interface depends on the interfacial curvature. We show that the interplay between the variable surface tension and three-dimensional effects connected to the contact angle significantly modifies the scenario of instability formation. This allows the manipulation of the Saffman-Taylor instability, leading to the stabilization (destabilization) of conventionally unstable (stable) situations. This is done analytically through a perturbative mode-coupling approach, providing relevant information about both linear and weakly nonlinear regimes of interface evolution.
authors: Departamento de Física, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco 50670-901, Brazil.
authors: Francisco M
authors: FM
authors: Rocha
authors: José A
authors: JA
authors: Miranda
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D003198:Computer Simulation; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D017711:Nonlinear Dynamics; D012212:Rheology / Q000379:methods*; D013500:Surface Tension