Size limits the formation of liquid jets during bubble bursting

• Published in: Nature communications Vol. 2; no. 1; p. 367
• Main Authors: Lee, Ji San, Weon, Byung Mook, Park, Su Ji, Je, Jung Ho, Fezzaa, Kamel, Lee, Wah-Keat
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Nature Publishing Group 21.06.2011
• Subjects: Aerosols; MATERIALS SCIENCE; Microfluidics; Models, Theoretical; Science & Technology - Other Topics; Seawater - chemistry; Synchrotrons
• ISSN: 2041-1723; 2041-1723
• DOI: 10.1038/ncomms1369

A bubble reaching an air-liquid interface usually bursts and forms a liquid jet. Jetting is relevant to climate and health as it is a source of aerosol droplets from breaking waves. Jetting has been observed for large bubbles with radii of R≫100 μm. However, few studies have been devoted to small bubbles (R<100 μm) despite the entrainment of a large number of such bubbles in sea water. Here we show that jet formation is inhibited by bubble size; a jet is not formed during bursting for bubbles smaller than a critical size. Using ultrafast X-ray and optical imaging methods, we build a phase diagram for jetting and the absence of jetting. Our results demonstrate that jetting in bubble bursting is analogous to pinching-off in liquid coalescence. The coalescence mechanism for bubble bursting may be useful in preventing jet formation in industry and improving climate models concerning aerosol production.