Flexoelectric fluid membrane vesicles in spherical confinement

The morphology of spherically confined flexoelectric fluid membrane vesicles in an external uniform electric field is studied numerically. Due to the deformations induced by the confinement, the membrane becomes polarized resulting in an interaction with the external field. The equilibrium shapes of the vesicle without electric field can be classified in a geometrical phase diagram as a function of scaled area and reduced volume [1,2]. When the area of the membrane is only slightly larger than the area of the confining sphere, a single axisymmetric invagination appears. A non-vanishing electric field induces an additional elongation of the confined vesicle which is either perpendicular or parallel depending on the sign of the electric field parameter. Higher values of the surface area or the electric field parameter can reduce the symmetry of the system leading to more complex folding. We present the resulting shapes and show that transition lines are shifted in the presence of an electric field. The obtained folding patterns could be of interest for biophysical and technological applications alike.Comment: main text: 9 pages, 4 figures supplemental: 5 pages, 2 figure

Abstracts of 1st International Conference on Computational & Applied Physics

This book contains the abstracts of the papers presented at the International Conference on Computational & Applied Physics (ICCAP’2021) Organized by the Surfaces, Interfaces and Thin Films Laboratory (LASICOM), Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University Saad Dahleb Blida 1, Algeria, held on 26–28 September 2021. The Conference had a variety of Plenary Lectures, Oral sessions, and E-Poster Presentations. Conference Title: 1st International Conference on Computational & Applied PhysicsConference Acronym: ICCAP’2021Conference Date: 26–28 September 2021Conference Location: Online (Virtual Conference)Conference Organizer: Surfaces, Interfaces, and Thin Films Laboratory (LASICOM), Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University Saad Dahleb Blida 1, Algeria