Axial-symmetry breaking in constrained membranes.

Full Abstract

We study the equilibrium shapes of a lipid membrane, attached to a fixed circular substrate. We show how the weakening of the boundary conditions is able to break the axial symmetry of the optimal equilibrium configuration. We derive the critical threshold of the symmetry-breaking transition, and obtain the analytical expression of the free-energy minimizers in the quasi-planar approximation. Metastable states turn out to contain contributions only from the axisymmetric mode, and at most one single non-trivial Fourier mode.

Author information

Author/s: Biscari, Paolo (P); Napoli, Gaetano (G);

Affiliation: Department of Mathematics, Politecnico di Milano, , Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milan, Italy. paolo.biscari(-atsign-)polimi.it

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: Philosophical transactions. Series A, Mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences (Philos Transact A Math Phys Eng Sci), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Sep; vol 367 (issue 1902) : pp 3363-78

Dates: Created 2009/08/06; Completed 2009/10/21;

PMID: 19657004, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 10/21/2009, IMS Date: )

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