The transient dynamics of a liquid column in a uniform transverse electric field of small strength

The transient behavior of a leaky dielectric liquid column under a uniform transverse electric field of small strength is investigated analytically. It is shown that for small distortion from a circular shape, the column boundary deforms to an ellipse and the deformation time history, D - t, is D = D-infinity [1 - exp(-t/tau)], where D-infinity is the steady state deformation and tau = a(mu(i) + mu(o))/gamma is the characteristic time, a, gamma, and (mu) over bar = mu(i)/mu(o) being the drop radius, the surface tension, and ratio of the drop viscosity to that of the ambient fluid, respectively. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.