Streaming instability at the equator of an oblately deformed drop

ORAL

Abstract

~ Electrohydrodynamic streaming and jet formation from the conical tips formed at the poles of a highly conducting drop in strong electric field is~a well known phenomenon. Here we report a novel streaming-like instability occurring with drops less conducting than the suspending medium. In a uniform DC electric field, the drop deforms into a flattened oblate (pancake-like) shape with cusped rim around the equator. The rim emits concentric threads which subsequently break up into tiny droplets forming a Saturn-like rings of droplets around the mother drop. The rate of droplet production is much larger than the classical tip-streaming and suggest a potential new route for ``electroemulsification''.

Authors

  • Quentin Brosseau

    • Brown University
  • Petia Vlahovska

    • Brown University