We investigate the interaction dynamics of an existing stable microbubble $B_1$ and another laser induced nearby expanding microbubble $B_2$ in a thin ink sheet between two glass slices. The fast expanding $B_2$ causes anistropic compression of $B_1$ with a forward penetrating jet. In the subsequent expansion stage of $B_1$, the gas associated with jet protrusion to the opposite edge of $B_1$ and the nonuniform surrounding flow field induce necking with transverse inward jetting from the side lobes, which further interact with the axial jet and lead to the final fragmentation into smaller bubbles. At small interbubble distance, the backward interaction from $B_1$ first leads to the pointed pole of the expanding $B_2$ and then a backward jetting during its collapsing. The strong interaction can merge the two bubbles with complicated asymmetric intermediated patterns.

• Received 25 April 2005

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.96.034505