Electrohydrodynamic rotations of a viscous droplet.
We report a fluid system which exhibits chaotic dynamics under creeping flow conditions. A droplet in a uniform dc electric field deforms into an ellipsoid that can undergo irregular rotational motions. The nonlinear drop electrohydrodynamics is explained by a theoretical model which includes anisotropy in the polarization relaxation due to drop asphericity and charge convection due to rotational drop flow.
School of Engineering, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, USA.
Paul F
PF
Salipante
Petia M
PM
Vlahovska