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Mode selection in the spontaneous motion of an alcohol droplet

Ken Nagai, Yutaka Sumino, Hiroyuki Kitahata, and Kenichi Yoshikawa
Phys. Rev. E 71, 065301(R) – Published 8 June 2005

Abstract

An alcohol (pentanol) droplet exhibits spontaneous motion on an aqueous solution, driven by a solutal Marangoni effect. We found that the droplet’s mode of motion is controlled by its volume. A droplet with a volume of less than 0.1μl shows irregular translational motion, whereas intermediate-sized droplets of 0.1200μl show vectorial motion. When the volume is above 300μl, the droplet splits into smaller drops. These experimental results regarding mode selection are interpreted in terms of the wave-number selection depending on the droplet volume.

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  • Received 21 February 2005

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.71.065301

©2005 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Ken Nagai, Yutaka Sumino, Hiroyuki Kitahata, and Kenichi Yoshikawa*

  • Department of Physics, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan

  • *Author to whom correspondence should be addressed. FAX: +81-75-753-3779. Email address: yoshikaw@scphys.kyoto-u.ac.jp

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Issue

Vol. 71, Iss. 6 — June 2005

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