On the physics of transient ejection from bubble bursting

Using a dynamical scaling analysis of the flow variables and their evolution due to bubble bursting, here we predict the size and speed of ejected droplets for the whole range of experimental Ohnesorge and Bond numbers where ejection occurs. The transient ejection, which requires the backfire of a vortex ring inside the liquid to preserve physical symmetry, shows a delicate balance between inertia, surface tension and viscous forces around a critical Ohnesorge number, akin to an apparent singularity. Like in other natural phenomena, this balance makes the process extremely sensitive to initial conditions. Our model generalizes or displaces other recently proposed ones, impacting on, for instance, the statistical description of sea spray.

Automated summary

Using dynamical scaling analysis, this study predicts the size and speed of ejected droplets within the experimental range of Ohnesorge and Bond numbers, showing a delicate balance in the transient ejection process around a critical Ohnesorge number and sensitivity to initial conditions. The model presented in this study impacts the statistical description of phenomena such as sea spray.