Producing droplets in parallel microfluidic systems.
We study the dynamics of two microfluidic droplets emitters placed in parallel. We observe complex dynamical behavior, including synchronization, quasiperiodicity, and chaos. This dynamics has a considerable impact on the properties of the resulting emulsions: chaotic and quasi-periodic regimes give rise to polydispersed emulsions with poorly controllable characteristics, whereas synchronized regimes generate well-controlled monodispersed emulsions. We derive a dynamical model that reproduces the trends observed in the experiment.
Barbier
V
V
Theorie et microfluidique, ESPCI 10, rue Vauquelin, 75231 Paris, France.
Willaime
H
H
Tabeling
P
P
Jousse
F
F