G. V. Kolmakov

Observation of an inverse energy cascade in developed acoustic turbulence in superfluid helium.

We report observation of an inverse energy cascade in second sound acoustic turbulence in He II. Its onset occurs above a critical driving energy and it is accompanied by giant waves that constitute an acoustic analogue of the rogue waves that occasionally appear on the surface of the ocean. The theory of the phenomenon is developed and shown to be in good agreement with the experiments.

Harnessing Labile Bonds between Nanogel Particles to Create Self-Healing Materials

Using computational modeling, we demonstrate the self-healing behavior of novel materials composed of nanoscopic gel particles that are interconnected into a macroscopic network by both stable and labile bonds. Under mechanical stress, the labile bonds between the nanogels can break and readily re-form with reactive groups on neighboring units. This breaking and re-forming allows the units in the network to undergo a structural rearrangement that preserves the mechanical integrity of the sample. The simulations show that just a small fraction of labile bonds leads to a roughly 25% increase in the stress needed to induce fracture. Thus, the labile bonds can significantly improve the tensile strength of the material. The findings provide guidelines for creating high-strength, self-healing materials.

Designing communicating colonies of biomimetic microcapsules.

Using computational modeling, we design colonies of biomimetic microcapsules that exploit chemical mechanisms to communicate and alter their local environment. As a result, these synthetic objects can self-organize into various autonomously moving structures and exhibit ant-like tracking behavior. In the simulations, signaling microcapsules release agonist particles, whereas target microcapsules release antagonist particles and the permeabilities of both capsule types depend on the local particle concentration in the surrounding solution. Additionally, the released nanoscopic particles can bind to the underlying substrate and thereby create adhesion gradients that propel the microcapsules to move. Hydrodynamic interactions and the feedback mechanism provided by the dissolved particles are both necessary to achieve the collective dynamics exhibited by these colonies. Our model provides a platform for integrating both the spatial and temporal behavior of assemblies of “artificial cells,” and allows us to design a rich variety of structures capable of exhibiting complex, cooperative behavior. Due to the cell-like attributes of polymeric microcapsules and polymersomes, material systems are available for realizing our predictions.

Quasiadiabatic decay of capillary turbulence on the charged surface of liquid hydrogen.

We study the free decay of capillary turbulence on the charged surface of liquid hydrogen. We find that decay begins from the high frequency end of the spectral range, while most of the energy remains localized at low frequencies. The apparent discrepancy with the self-similar theory of nonstationary wave turbulent processes is accounted for in terms of a quasiadiabatic decay wherein fast nonlinear wave interactions redistribute energy between frequency scales in the presence of finite damping at all frequencies. Numerical calculations based on this idea agree well with experimental data.

Fibers with Integrated Mechanochemical Switches: Minimalistic Design Principles Derived from Fibronectin

Inspired by molecular mechanisms that cells exploit to sense mechanical forces and convert them into biochemical signals, chemists dream of designing mechanochemical switches integrated into materials. Using the adhesion protein fibronectin, whose multiple repeats essentially display distinct molecular recognition motifs, we derived a computational model to explain how minimalistic designs of repeats translate into the mechanical characteristics of their fibrillar assemblies. The hierarchy of repeat-unfolding within fibrils is controlled not only by their relative mechanical stabilities, as found for single molecules, but also by the strength of cryptic interactions between adjacent molecules that become activated by stretching. The force-induced exposure of cryptic sites furthermore regulates the nonlinearity of stress-strain curves, the strain at which such fibers break, and the refolding kinetics and fraction of misfolded repeats. Gaining such computational insights at the mesoscale is important because translating protein-based concepts into novel polymer designs has proven difficult.

Designing mechano-responsive microcapsules that undergo self-propelled motion

Biological cells are capable of sensing mechanical cues and responding to these signals by undergoing morphological changes and directed motion. A significant challenge is creating cell-like objects that can translate mechanical stimuli into analogous behavior. Herein, we use computational modeling to design a simple mechanosensitive “cell” that responds to mechanical deformation through a shape change that allows it to undergo self-sustained, directed movement. Our cellular object is formed from a nanoparticle-filled microcapsule that is located on an adhesive substrate in solution. In response to a locally applied force, the deformed capsule releases nanoparticles that bind to the surface and dynamically create adhesion gradients. Due to the self-generated gradients, the capsule moves autonomously from regions of less adhesion to greater adhesion. During the capsules motion, new nanoparticles are released that both sustain and propagate the adhesion gradients and thus, the capsule sustains autonomous movement along its path (until it is depleted of nanoparticles). The self-sustained motion occurs only if the permeability of the capsules shell depends on mechanical deformation. We isolate critical parameters that control the dynamic behavior of this mechano-responsive capsule. Our findings can facilitate the fabrication of devices that are powered by the autonomous movement of microscopic synthetic cells. Additionally, the capsules could serve as sensors for mechanical strain, indicating the presence of strain fields by their spontaneous motion and release of nanoparticles; the latter behavior could be exploited in the fabrication of self-healing materials.

Measurement of the boundary frequency of the inertial interval of capillary wave turbulence at the surface of liquid hydrogen

The boundary frequency was experimentally measured for the upper edge of an inertial interval corresponding to the Kolmogorov spectrum for energy distribution over the oscillation frequencies at the surface of liquid hydrogen. It is shown that the dependence of boundary frequency ωb on the wave amplitude ηp at the pump frequency ωp is well described by the power law ωb∼ηp4/3ωp23/9.

Designing self-propelled microcapsules for pick-up and delivery of microscopic cargo

Using computational modeling, we design a system of active polymeric microcapsules that pick-up, convey and drop-off a cargo between locations on a patterned surface. To create this system, we harness “signaling” and “target” capsules, which release nanoparticles into the surrounding solution. These nanoparticles bind to the underlying surface and thereby create adhesion gradients that trigger the spontaneous motion of the capsules. One signaling and two target capsules are found to form a stable triad, which can transport a cargo of four target capsules. Guided by an adhesive stripe on the surface, the triad and cargo form a “train” that moves autonomously along the substrate. The stripe is designed to encompass a small region with a lower adhesive strength. Through the aid of this patch, the triad can deposit its cargo and move on to potentially pick up a new payload at another location. Since the microcapsules can encase a wide variety of compounds, the system could provide an effective means of autonomously transporting a broad range of substances within microfluidic devices.

Formation of a direct Kolmogorov-like cascade of second-sound waves in He II.

Based on measurements of nonlinear second-sound resonances in a high-quality resonator, we have observed a steady-state wave energy cascade in He II involving a flux of energy through the spectral range towards high frequencies. We show that the energy balance in the wave system is nonlocal in K space and that the frequency scales of energy pumping and dissipation are widely separated. The wave amplitude distribution follows a power law over a wide range of frequencies. Numerical computations yield results in agreement with the experimental observations. We suggest that second-sound cascades of this kind may be useful for model studies of acoustic turbulence.

The turbulence of capillary waves on the surface of liquid hydrogen

It is experimentally demonstrated that the surface excitation of liquid hydrogen at a low frequency results in the turbulent mode in a system of capillary waves. The experimental results are in good agreement with the theory of weak wave turbulence. The pair correlation function of the surface deviations is described by the exponential function ωm. The exponent m decreases in magnitude from m=−3.7±0.3 to −2.8±0.2 when the pumping at a single resonant frequency changes to broadband noise excitation. Measurements are made of the dependence of the boundary frequency ωb of the upper edge of the inertial range in which the Kolmogorov spectrum is formed on the wave amplitude ηp at the pumping frequency. It is demonstrated that the obtained data are well described by a function of the form ωb∝ηp4/3ωp23/9.