Droplet traffic at a simple junction at low capillary numbers.
We report that, when a train of confined droplets flowing through a channel reaches a junction, the droplets either are alternately distributed between the different outlets or all collect into the shortest one. We argue that this behavior is due to the hydrodynamic feedback of droplets in the different outlets on the selection process occurring at the junction. A "mean field" model, yielding semiquantitative results, offers a first guide to predict droplet traffic in branched networks.
Engl
Wilfried
W
Laboratoire du Futur, Rhodia/CNRS, 178 Avenue A. Schweitzer, 33608 Pessac, France.
Roche
Matthieu
M
Colin
Annie
A
Panizza
Pascal
P
Ajdari
Armand
A
D044085:Microfluidics; D036103:Nanotechnology