The issue of breath figure formation on the surfaces of volatile fluids is examined. Dramatic differences are observed in the breath figure features for the cases of benzene and chloroform. It is shown that these results cannot be accounted for in terms of the known properties of the participating fluids and the prevalent physical picture involving static aspects of hydrodynamic interactions. Thus, a major role of the stochastic instabilities at the surface, possibly caused by the evolving convective currents, is emphasized.

• Received 20 November 1995

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.76.3762