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Pierre-Gilles de Gennes

Publications and source records attributed to Pierre-Gilles de Gennes.

2 recordsLinked to original sources

Adhesion induced by mobile binders: dynamics.

We consider a vesicle bilayer loaded with molecules that can bind (upon contact) with a solid surface, following the classical model of Bell, Dembo, and Bongrand. We are interested in situations where the contact area varies with time: we assume that binders can then migrate via diffusion. The resulting dissipation and lag create a retarded force on the contact line, which could be significant in squeezing or rolling experiments. However, there are two cases where we expect the lag force to be ineffective: (i) separation by shrinking of an adhesive patch (where the Evans "tear out" process turns out to be less costly) and (ii) spontaneous growth of a patch from a point contact. In this last case, the lag force is weak, and we give detailed predictions for the growth laws.

Cell Adhesion↗

Tapping of Granular Packs: A Model Based on Local Two-Level Systems.

Two-level systems are known to be important for the low-temperature properties of glasses. We suggest here that they might explain some remarkable properties of powders under repeated tapping, as discovered by the Chicago group. Following the ideas of S. F. Edwards, the relevant variables here are (1) the volumes V(alpha) (V(beta)) occupied in the states alpha, beta (including distant reorganizations); (2) the magnitude B of the "activated volume" during a transition from alpha to beta; (3) the analog of temperatures, i.e., the compactivity (or free volume) v. Tapping induces alpha-->beta transitions, and these in turn reduce the compactivity. At low tapping strengths GammaGamma>Gamma(*)), the system freezes before reaching the alpha-beta equilibrium, and the density grows with the observed logarithmic law. At higher tapping strengths (Gamma<Gamma(*)) the beta<--beta equilibrium may be approached and competes with freezing (because the free volume is expected to increase with Gamma). The scenarios are discussed here for two limits; (a) a well-defined difference Delta=V(alpha)-V(beta), (b) a flat distribution of Delta values, which gives rather different predictions. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.

Journal Article↗