title: Inhibition of wave-driven two-dimensional turbulence by viscoelastic films of proteins.
abstract: To model waves, surface flows, and particle dispersion at the air-water interface one needs to know the essential mechanisms affecting the fluid motion at the surface. We show that a thin film (less than 10-nm thick) of adsorbed protein dramatically affects two-dimensional turbulence generated by Faraday waves at the fluid surface. Extremely low concentrations (≈1 ppm) of soluble proteins form a strong viscoelastic layer which suppresses turbulent diffusion at the surface, changes wave patterns, and shows strong resilience to the wave-induced droplet generation. Surface shear properties of the film play a key role in this phenomenon by inhibiting the creation of vorticity at the surface. The addition of surfactants, on the other hand, destroys the nanolayer and restores the fluid mobility.
authors.affiliation: Research School of Physics and Engineering, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2611, Australia.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Francois
authors.affiliation: Research School of Physics and Engineering, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2611, Australia.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.affiliation: Research School of Physics and Engineering, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2611, Australia.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Punzmann
authors.affiliation: Research School of Physics and Engineering, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2611, Australia.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Combriat
authors.affiliation: Research School of Physics and Engineering, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2611, Australia.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shats
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D004058:Diffusion; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009038:Motion; D010507:Periodicity; D012212:Rheology; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine / Q000737:chemistry; D012995:Solubility; D013499:Surface Properties; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000737:chemistry; D055682:Viscoelastic Substances / Q000737:chemistry; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D013501:Surface-Active Agents; D055682:Viscoelastic Substances; D014867:Water; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine