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Second variation of the Helfrich–Canham Hamiltonian and reparametrization invariance

R Capovilla1 and J Guven2,3

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A covariant approach towards a theory of deformations is developed to examine both the first and second variation of the Helfrich–Canham Hamiltonian—quadratic in extrinsic curvature—which describes fluid vesicles at mesoscopic scales. Deformations are decomposed into tangential and normal components. At first order, tangential deformations may always be identified with a reparametrization; at second order, they differ. The relationship between tangential deformations and reparametrizations, as well as the coupling between tangential and normal deformations, is examined at this order for both the metric and the extrinsic curvature tensors. Expressions for the expansion to second order in deformations of geometrical invariants constructed with these tensors are obtained; in particular, the expansion of the Hamiltonian to this order about an equilibrium is considered. Our approach applies as well to any geometrical model for membranes.


PACS

87.16.D- Membranes, bilayers, and vesicles

87.15.La Mechanical properties

87.14.Cc Lipids

Subjects

Biological physics

Dates

Issue 23 (11 June 2004)

Received 4 March 2004

Published 25 May 2004



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