Interfacial Micro-currents in Continuum-Scale Multi-Component Lattice Boltzmann Equation Hydrodynamics.

We describe, analyse and reduce micro-current effects in one class of lattice Boltzmann equation simulation method describing im-miscible fluids within the continuum approximation, due to Lishchuk et al. (Phys. Rev. E 67 036701 (2003)). This model's micro-current flow �field and associated density adjustment, when considered in the linear, low-Reynolds number regime, may be decomposed into independent, superposable contributions arising from various error terms in its immersed boundary force. Error force contributions which are rotational (solenoidal) are mainly responsible for the micro-current (corresponding density adjustment). Rotationally anisotropic error terms arise from numerical derivatives and from the sampling of the interface-supporting force. They may be removed, either by eliminating the causal error force or by negating it. It is found to be straightforward to design more effective stencils with significantly improved performance. Practically, the micro-current activity arising in Lishchuk's method is reduced by approximately three quarters by using an appropriate stencil and approximately by an order of magnitude when the effects of sampling are removed.