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Breakup of Air Bubbles in Water: Memory and Breakdown of Cylindrical Symmetry

Nathan C. Keim·Peder Moller·Wendy W. Zhang·Sidney R. Nagel
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Abstract

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 breakup. However, because the air-water interfacial tension does not drive breakup, even small initial cylindrical asymmetries are preserved throughout the collapse. This novel, non-universal singularity retains a memory of the nozzle shape, size and tilt angle. In the last stages, the air appears to tear instead of pinch.

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Nathan C. Keim, Peder Moller, Wendy W. Zhang, Sidney R. Nagel. 2006-07-31. Breakup of Air Bubbles in Water: Memory and Breakdown of Cylindrical Symmetry. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.97.144503

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