Active flows on curved surfaces

Abstract

We consider a numerical approach for a covariant generalized Navier-Stokes equation on general surfaces and study the influence of varying Gaussian curvature on anomalous vortex-network active turbulence. This regime is characterized by self-assembly of finite-size vortices into linked chains of anti-ferromagnet order, which percolate through the entire surface. The simulation results reveal an alignment of these chains with minimal curvature lines of the surface and indicate a dependency of this turbulence regime on the sign and the gradient in local Gaussian curvature. While these results remain qualitative and their explanations are still incomplete, several of the observed phenomena are in qualitative agreement with experiments on active nematic liquid crystals on toroidal surfaces and contribute to an understanding of the delicate interplay between geometrical properties of the surface and characteristics of the flow field, which has the potential to control active flows on surfaces via gradients in the spatial curvature of the surface.