Inhibition of wave-driven two-dimensional turbulence by viscoelastic films of proteins

To model waves, surface flows, and particle dispersion at the air-water interface one needs to know the essential mechanisms affecting the fluid motion at the surface. We show that a thin film (less than 10-nm thick) of adsorbed protein dramatically affects two-dimensional turbulence generated by Faraday waves at the fluid surface. Extremely low concentrations (≈1 ppm) of soluble proteins form a strong viscoelastic layer which suppresses turbulent diffusion at the surface, changes wave patterns, and shows strong resilience to the wave-induced droplet generation. Surface shear properties of the film play a key role in this phenomenon by inhibiting the creation of vorticity at the surface. The addition of surfactants, on the other hand, destroys the nanolayer and restores the fluid mobility.