title: Noisy nonlinear dynamics of vesicles in flow.
abstract: We present a model for the dynamics of fluid vesicles in linear flow which consistently includes thermal fluctuations and nonlinear coupling between different modes. At the transition between tank treading and tumbling, we predict a trembling motion which is at odds with the known deterministic motions and for which thermal noise is strongly amplified. In particular, highly asymmetric shapes are observed even though the deterministic flow only allows for axisymmetric ones. Our results explain quantitatively recent experimental observations [Levant and Steinberg, Phys. Rev. Lett. 109, 268103 (2012)].
authors.affiliation: II. Institut für Theoretische Physik, Universität Stuttgart, 70550 Stuttgart, Germany.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Abreu
authors.affiliation: II. Institut für Theoretische Physik, Universität Stuttgart, 70550 Stuttgart, Germany.
authors.forename: Udo
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Seifert