title: Ultrafast interference imaging of air in splashing dynamics.
abstract: A drop impacting a solid surface with sufficient velocity will emit many small droplets creating a splash. However, splashing is completely suppressed if the surrounding gas pressure is lowered. The mechanism by which the gas affects splashing remains unknown. We use high-speed interference imaging to measure the air beneath all regions of a spreading viscous drop as well as optical absorption to measure the drop thickness. Although an initial air bubble is created on impact, no significant air layer persists until the time a splash is created. This suggests that splashing in our experimentally accessible range of viscosities is initiated at the edge of the drop as it encroaches into the surrounding gas.
authors: The James Franck Institute and Department of Physics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA.
authors: Michelle M
authors: MM
authors: Driscoll
authors: Sidney R
authors: SR
authors: Nagel