2006/05/31 by Nathan C. Keim, Peder Moller, Peder Møller +2 · 103 citations
Engineering · Physics and Astronomy · #Breakup #Bubble #Classical mechanics #Fluid Dynamics Simulations and Interactions #Fluid Dynamics and Heat Transfer #Fluid Dynamics and Mixing #Geology #Geometry #Materials science #Mechanics #Nozzle #Optics #Physics #RADIUS #Rotational symmetry #Singularity #Symmetry (geometry) #Thermodynamics #Tilt (camera) #Underwater #cond-mat.soft
paper · pdf · doi:10.1103/physrevlett.97.144503
published in Physical Review Letters 97(14), 144503 (American Physical Society) · Submitted to Phys. Rev. Lett. 4 pages, 4 figures. Revised for resubmission
arxiv created 2006/07/31 · openalex publication_date 2006/10/03 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
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 the breakup. However, because the air-water interfacial tension does not drive the breakup, even small initial cylindrical asymmetries are preserved throughout the collapse. This novel, nonuniversal singularity retains a memory of the nozzle shape, size, and tilt angle. In the last stages, the air appears to tear instead of pinch.