We consider the viscous motion of an axisymmetric column of fluid with a free surface. The Navier-Stokes equation forms a singularity as the height of the fluid neck goes to zero. Close to pinchoff, the solutions have a scaling form characterized by a set of universal exponents. The shape of the neck and its velocity field is described by scaling functions, which we predict without adjustable parameters.

• Received 7 September 1993

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.71.3458