Marangoni instabilities of droplets on the liquid substrate under the action of a spatial temperature modulation

The dynamics of a droplet on an inhomogeneously cooled liquid substrate is investigated numerically. The longwave approximation is applied. It is shown that spatial temperature modulation leads to the droplet's motion towards the region of lower temperature, which is accompanied by the change of the droplet shape. An intensive cooling from below can lead to periodic or quasiperiodic oscillations or the droplet's decomposition. A spatial temperature modulation can suppress the oscillatory instability.

Automated summary

The dynamics of a droplet on a nonuniformly cooled liquid substrate was investigated using the longwave approximation. It was found that spatial temperature modulation caused the droplet to move towards regions of lower temperature, resulting in a change in its shape. Intensive cooling from below could lead to periodic or quasiperiodic oscillations or even the decomposition of the droplet. However, the oscillatory instability could be suppressed by spatial temperature modulation.