Molecular spin in a fluid undergoing Poiseuille flow

Abstract

We use nonequilibrium molecular dynamics to investigate shear induced molecular rotation in a diatomic fluid undergoing planar Poiseuille flow. We have compared the angular velocity and translational streaming velocity profiles with the predictions of Navier-Stokes hydrodynamics generalized for systems that possess spin. We find that the angular velocity profile is in general agreement with the profile predicted from the Navier-Stokes theory except for some features close to the walls which are likely to be a result of molecular packing.