Deformations of an active liquid droplet

Abstract

A fluid droplet in general deforms, if subject to active driving, such as a finite slip velocity or active tractions on its interface. We show that these deformations and their dynamics can be computed analytically in a perturbation theory in the inverse surface tension using an approach based on vector spherical harmonics. In lowest order, the deformation is of first order, yet it affects the flow fields inside and outside of the droplet in zeroth order. Hence a correct description of the flow has to allow for shape fluctuations, even in the limit of large surface tension.