Evolution of a single defect in an ideal two-dimensional hexagonal soap froth

Abstract

We have simulated the evolution of a single defect in an ideal two-dimensional hexagonal soap froth using a physical model based on a combination of mass transfer, vertex movement, and edge relaxation. We find that the defect grows quadratically with time while the mean area of the cells surrounding the defect remains constant in a new scaling state with a topological distribution that differs from the normal froth. Moreover, the number of cell neighbors to the defect is found to grow linearly with time. The results agree with the large-$Q$ Potts model for soap froth and qualitatively with a recent experiment using a bubble raft.