Breaking Faraday Waves: Critical Slowing of Droplet Ejection Rates

C. L. Goodridge; H. G. E. Hentschel; D. P. Lathrop

doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.82.3062

Breaking Faraday Waves: Critical Slowing of Droplet Ejection Rates

C. L. Goodridge, H. G. E. Hentschel, and D. P. Lathrop

Phys. Rev. Lett. 82, 3062 – Published 12 April 1999

Abstract

Parametrically excited surface waves (Faraday waves) are studied near the threshold for breaking. The breaking state ejects droplets from wave peaks when the applied forcing exceeds an acceleration threshold. The rate of breaking events approaches zero gradually with decreasing acceleration. Two properties of these ejections were studied around the ejection threshold. Analysis of the ejection rate dependence on acceleration allows a determination of the ejection threshold and an inference about the wave height distribution. A Poisson distribution is found for the times between ejections.