Nonequilibrium Casimir pressures in liquids under shear

Abstract

In stationary nonequilibrium states coupling between hydrodynamic modes causes thermal fluctuations to become long ranged inducing nonequilibrium Casimir pressures. Here we consider nonequilibrium Casimir pressures induced in liquids by a velocity gradient. Specifically, we have obtained explicit expressions for the magnitude of the shear-induced pressure enhancements in a liquid layer between two horizontal plates that complete and correct results previously presented in the literature. In contrast to nonequilibrium Casimir pressures induced by a temperature or concentration gradient, we find that in shear nonequilibrium contributions from short-range fluctuations are no longer negligible. In addition, it is noted that currently available computer simulations of model fluids in shear observe effects from molecular correlations at nanoscales that have a different physical origin and do not probe shear-induced pressures resulting from coupling of long-wavelength hydrodynamic modes. Even more importantly, we find that in actual experimental conditions, shear-induced pressure enhancements are caused by viscous heating and not by thermal velocity fluctuations. Hence, isothermal computer simulations are irrelevant for the interpretation of experimental shear-induced pressure enhancements.