Curvature-based interaction potential between a micro/nano curved surface body and a particle on the surface of the body

J Biol Phys. 2016 Jan;42(1):33-51. doi: 10.1007/s10867-015-9390-3. Epub 2015 Nov 4.

Abstract

The interaction potential between a curved surface body and a particle located on the surface of the body is studied in this paper. Based on the negative exponential pair potential (1/R(n)) between particles, the interaction potential is proved to be of the curvature-based form, i.e., it can be written as a function of curvatures of the surface. Idealized numerical experiments are designed to test the accuracy of curvature-based potential. Based on the curvature-based potential, propositions below are confirmed: a highly curved surface body will induce driving forces on the particle located on the surface, and curvatures and the gradients of curvatures are essential factors forming the driving forces. In addition, the tangent driving force acting on the particle from the curved surface body is studied. Based on duality, the following rule is proved: for a convex or concave curved body sharing the same curved surface, the curvature-based interaction potential between them and a particle on the surface can make up the potential of a particle in the whole space.

Keywords: Curvature-based potential; Driving force of curvatures and the gradients of curvatures; Micro/nano curved surface body; Pair-potential; Particle on the surface.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Models, Theoretical*
  • Physical Phenomena*
  • Surface Properties