Work

Deformation-induced spectral softening drives phase separation on non-spherical membranes

Year: 2026

Type: preprint

Abstract: Models of curvature-driven membrane sorting couple composition directly to membrane bending elasticity. Here we show that shape deformations can destabilize a homogeneous state without this composition-dependent mechanical coupling. We analyze the eigenspectrum of the Laplace-Beltrami operator on deformed spheres analytically, and verify it numerically. As the deformation amplitude increases, the spectral degeneracy breaks, and the lowest nonzero eigenvalue decreases substantially. Using Cahn-Hilliard dynamics, we show that this eigenvalue softening provides a purely geometric route to phase separation.

Source: arXiv (Cornell University)

DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2610.16037

Authors: Moriel, Avraham, Stone, Howard A.

Institution: Princeton University

Language: English

Topic: Lipid Membrane Structure and Behavior

Subfield: Molecular Biology

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Science Foundation, James S. McDonnell Foundation, Princeton University, Princeton Center for Complex Materials, Division of Materials Research

OpenAlex ID: W7221787917

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