Bruce M. Boghosian, Center for Computational Science, Boston University Peter V. Coveney, Department of Chemistry, Queen Mary and Westfield College, University of London click image for larger version
Lattice models have been used to study the equilibrium properties of amphiphilic fluids for over a decade now. many interesting questions about these fluids, however, center on their behavior away from equilibrium. Droplet growth rates, fluctuations of interfaces loaded with surfactang, vesicle formation, and rheology in the presence of shearing flow, for example, all involve hydrodynamics, and therefore require a model with a conserved momentum. In our research, we present recent simulational results from a three-dimensional lattice-gass hydrodynamic model of amphiphilic fluids. These results include spherical and "wormlike" micelle formation, sponge sphases and lamellae.