Electronic edition ISSN 1574-0579

Pressure difference induced by curvature at the interface of a ferrofluid

F. Elias , C. Flament , J.-C. Bacri

Laboratoire des Milieux Désordonnés et Hétérogènes Université Paris 6, Case 78, 4 place Jussieu, 75252 Paris cedex 05, France

Abstract
We present an experimental study of two-dimensional (2D) bubble and foam patterns, whose boundaries contain a magnetic fluid (MF). Under the influence of a perpendicular external magnetic field, pressure differences are observed between disconnected domains. We show that the sign of the pressure difference depends, in a surprising manner, on the sign of the curvature of the boundaries. Figs 7, Refs 20.