Interfacial dynamics in 3D binary fluid demixing: animation studies

The late-stage phase ordering, in three dimensions, of fully symmetric bina ry fluid mixtures is studied via a lattice Boltzmann method. We present tim e-resolved maps of the fluid velocity fields and also animated visualizatio ns of the interfacial motion. These show distinct features corresponding to regimes where viscous, crossover and inertial hydrodynamic scaling have pr eviously been identified. Specifically, while the interface is overdamped i n the viscous regime, it exhibits recoil after topological reconnection at intermediate and higher inertia; and in our most inertial runs the interfac e shows extensive underdamped capillary disturbances not attributable to to pological reconnection events. The advantages and practicality of presentin g such dynamical data in fully animated form are demonstrated and briefly d iscussed. This paper's animations are available from the Multimedia Enhancements page as individual files and also packed into archives (two formats).