Decay Dynamics of a Single Spherical Domain in Near-Critical Phase-Separated Conditions.

Domain decay is at the heart of the so-called evaporation-condensation Ostwald-ripening regime of phase ordering kinetics, where the growth of large domains occurs at the expense of smaller ones, which are expected to "evaporate." We experimentally investigate such decay dynamics at the level of a single spherical domain picked from one phase in coexistence and brought into the other phase by an optomechanical approach, in a near-critical phase-separated binary liquid mixture. We observe that the decay dynamics is generally not compatible with the theoretically expected surface-tension decay laws for conserved order parameters.

Near-critical spreading of droplets.

We study the spreading of droplets in a near-critical phase-separated liquid mixture, using a combination of experiments, lubrication theory and finite-element numerical simulations. The classical Tanner's law describing the spreading of viscous droplets is robustly verified when the critical temperature is neared. Furthermore, the microscopic cut-off length scale emerging in this law is obtained as a single free parameter for each given temperature.

Thermal Marangoni trapping driven by laser absorption in evaporating droplets for particle deposition.

Controlling the deposition of particles is of great importance in many applications. In this work, we study particle deposition driven by Marangoni flows, triggered by laser absorption inside an evaporating droplet. When the laser is turned on, thermal gradients are generated and produce a toroidal Marangoni flow that concentrates the particles around the laser beam and ultimately controls the final deposition.

Conical Interfaces between Two Immiscible Fluids Induced by an Optical Laser Beam.

We demonstrate the existence of conical interface deformations induced by a laser beam that are similar to Taylor cones in the electrical regime. We show that the cone morphology can be manipulated by fluid and laser parameters. A theory is proposed to quantitatively describe these dependences in good agreement with experimental data obtained for different fluid systems with low interfacial tensions.

Convection flows driven by laser heating of a liquid layer.

When a fluid is heated by the absorption of a continuous laser wave, the fluid density decreases in the heated area. This induces a pressure gradient that generates internal motion of the fluid. Due to mass conservation, convection eddies emerge in the sample.

Deformation of phospholipid vesicles in an optical stretcher.

Phospholipid vesicles are common model systems for cell membranes. Important aspects of the membrane function relate to its mechanical properties. Here we have investigated the deformation behaviour of phospholipid vesicles in a dual-beam laser trap, also called an optical stretcher.

Manipulating the orbital angular momentum of light at the micron scale with nematic disclinations in a liquid crystal film.

We report on the experimental manipulation of the orbital angular momentum of light by exploiting a kind of topological defects that spontaneously appear in nematics-disclinations-as microscopic optical spin-orbit interfaces whose operating wavelength can be controlled electrically. Using six different kinds of disclinations, we demonstrate the efficient generation of both scalar and vectorial singular light beams with a broad topological diversity from a fundamental Gaussian beam.

Changes in Ect2 localization couple actomyosin-dependent cell shape changes to mitotic progression.

As they enter mitosis, animal cells undergo profound actin-dependent changes in shape to become round. Here we identify the Cdk1 substrate, Ect2, as a central regulator of mitotic rounding, thus uncovering a link between the cell-cycle machinery that drives mitotic entry and its accompanying actin remodeling. Ect2 is a RhoGEF that plays a well-established role in formation of the actomyosin contractile ring at mitotic exit, through the local activation of RhoA.

Experimental study of hybrid nematic wetting films.

Liquid crystal layers, with thickness less than 1 μm, are deposited on isotropic - solid or liquid - substrates and investigated in the bulk nematic range of temperatures. The boundary conditions at interfaces are antagonist ones, therefore the layers are distorted due to nematic elasticity. These films are referred to as "hybrid nematics".

Coalescence driven by line tension in thin nematic films.

Thin nematic films deposited on liquid substrates provide a unique situation to investigate coalescence: the whole process can be followed under microscope over a wide range of times, and temperature allows us to monitor the surface viscosity of the surrounding fluid. For the first time, the complete scenario of 2D coalescence has been recorded for a given system in both inviscid limit and viscous environment, enabling us to identify the successive routes of dissipation. In particular, 2D "viscous bubbles" of the surrounding viscous fluid with a bulbous shape formed in the gap between coalescing films are observed.

Thin liquid crystal films on liquids in the nematic range of temperatures.

Hybrid nematic films deposited on liquid substrates reveal a complex behavior, which is not fully understood. Here, the behavior of the n-cyanobiphenyl series on water and glycerol has been studied in a wide temperature range, including the vicinity of the nematic-isotropic (NI) transition. Wettability, allowed film thicknesses, and line tension of nematic domains have been investigated.

Some specificities of wetting by cyanobiphenyl liquid crystals.

The present paper provides an up to date restatement of the wetting behaviour of the series of cyanobiphenyl liquid crystals (LCs) on usual substrates, i.e. oxidized silicon wafers, water and glycerol, at both the macroscopic and microscopic scale, in the nematic range of temperature.

Thin nematic films on liquid substrates.

Thin films of cyanobiphenyl liquid crystals (nCB) deposited on water or glycerol have been studied in the nematic temperature range. A common property of the systems is the hybrid anchoring conditions at the film interfaces. The preferred orientation of the nematic director is planar at the liquid interface, and it is homeotropic and somewhat weaker at the air interface.

Nematic pancakes revisited.

The spontaneous spreading of the 5CB nematic liquid crystal on solid substrates has been extensively studied in the last years both at the microscopic(1-4) and macroscopic(5-6) scales. The remarkable feature at the microscopic scale is the presence of a discontinuity in the thickness profile of the films. On the other hand, the spreading dynamics of macroscopic drops is quite specific.