Oberseminar Numerische Mathematik / Scientific Computing
Björn Stinner
University of Warwick
Relaxation dynamics of biomembranes with lateral phase separation
Abstract:
Vesicles formed by lipid bilayers (or biomembranes) show a variety of interesting shapes that can be explained by its elastic energy. Due to inhomogeneities the lipids may separate and form different phases on the membrane which results in an energy contribution from the phase interfaces. In order to compute local energy minima a (kind of) gradient flow dynamics has been defined where the inter-membrane domains are described using the phase field method. The governing equations consist of a pde on the membrane surface describing the phase separation coupled to a geometric evolution law for the membrane. The discretisation is based on representing the membrane by a triangulated surface and quadratic parametric finite elements. The convergence as the diffuse interface thickness tend to zero has been numerically investigated. Further issues are the sharp interface limit of the phase-field approach, grid regularity, and adaptive mesh refinement.
| Datum: | 06.07.09 | Zeit: | 17:00 Uhr | Ort: | FU Berlin, Institut für Mathematik, Arnimallee 6, 14195 Berlin. | Raum: | 032 im Erdgeschoss |