2019/12/23 by Dongdong Liu, Tuan Tran, Liu, Dongdong +1
Engineering · #FOS: Physical sciences #Fluid Dynamics (physics.flu-dyn) #Transportation and Mobility Innovations
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.1912.10744
openalex publication_date 2019/12/23 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
A liquid droplet hovering on a hot surface is commonly referred to as a Leidenfrost droplet. In this study, we discover that a Leidenfrost droplet involuntarily performs a series of distinct oscillations as it shrinks during the span of its life. The oscillation first starts out erratically, followed by a stage with stable frequencies, and finally turns into periodic bouncing with signatures of a parametric oscillation and occasional resonances. The last bouncing stage exhibits nearly perfect collisions. We showed experimentally and theoretically the enabling effects of each oscillation mode and how the droplet switches between such modes. We finally show that these self-regulating oscillation modes and the conditions for transitioning between modes are universal for all tested combinations of liquids and surfaces.