Dynamics of Liquid Nanojets

We study the breakup of a liquid jet a few nanometers in diameter, based on a stochastic differential equation derived recently by Moseler and Landman [Science 289, 1165 (2000)]. In agreement with their simulations, we confirm that noise qualitatively changes the characteristics of breakup, leading to symmetric profiles. Using the path integral description, we find a self-similar profile that describes the most probable breakup mode. As illustrated by a simple physical argument, noise is the driving force behind pinching, speeding up the breakup to make surface tension irrelevant.

Figure 1

The computed interface profile of a collapsing bridge of liquid propane at 185 K. All lengths are nondimensionalized by the initial bridge radius of 3 nm. The time interval between the profiles is 150 ps.

Figure 2

The symmetric similarity profile $\varphi$ as given by a solution of (11, 12) with $\alpha =0.418$.