title: Satellites in the inviscid breakup of bubbles.
abstract: In this Letter, we stress the essential role played by gas inertia in the breakup of gas bubbles. Our results reveal that, whenever the gas to liquid density ratio Lambda=rhog/rhol is different from zero, tiny satellite bubbles may be formed as a result of the large gas velocities that are reached close to pinch-off. Moreover, we provide a closed expression for the characteristic satellite diameter, which decreases when decreasing Lambda and which shows order of magnitude agreement with the micron-sized satellite bubbles observed experimentally.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ingenieŕia Aeroespacial y Mećanica de Fluidos, Universidad de Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain. jgordill@us.es
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Gordillo
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Fontelos