Breakup of air bubbles in water: memory and breakdown of cylindrical symmetry.
Using high-speed video, we have studied air bubbles detaching from an underwater nozzle. As a bubble distorts, it forms a thin neck which develops a singular shape as it pinches off. As in other singularities, the minimum neck radius scales with the time until the breakup. However, because the air-water interfacial tension does not drive the breakup, even small initial cylindrical asymmetries are preserved throughout the collapse. This novel, nonuniversal singularity retains a memory of the nozzle shape, size, and tilt angle. In the last stages, the air appears to tear instead of pinch.
Keim
Nathan C
NC
James Franck Institute, University of Chicago, 929 East 57th Street, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA. nkeim@uchicago.edu
Møller
Peder
P
Zhang
Wendy W
WW
Nagel
Sidney R
SR