Krechetnikov Fluid Physics Lab: Challenges of Fluid Interfaces

The Carnot cycle tells us that the coefficient of energy transduction is controlled by the normed difference of the hot and cold reservoir temperatures. All motor organs in living organisms, however, work through the conversion of chemical energy directly into mechanical motion under almost isothermal conditions, i.e. through mechanisms other than the Carnot cycle. Prof. Krechetnikov’s research is motivated by the fundamental and practical importance of the phenomena of self-sustained motions of fluid interfaces, which are driven by direct conversion of chemical energy into mechanical motion. The goals are to elucidate the physical origin and quantify the dynamics of self-sustained motions, singularity formation, and topological changes of complex fluid interfaces.

In general, Prof. Krechetnikov’s research focuses on fundamental questions in Fluid Dynamics motivated by or targeted to applications and natural phenomena. The problems of interest span a wide range of phenomena from rigorous stability theory and differential geometry methods in fluid mechanics to probing Nature with experimental studies in the Fluid Physics Laboratory. Currently, experimental focus is on fluid systems with complex interfaces as well as short time and small scale phenomena. These include interfaces in the presence of surfactants and/or chemical reactions.