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Singular jets in free-falling droplets

M. Kharbedia1,*, H. Franca1,2, H. K. Schubert1,3, D. J. Engels1,3, M. Jalaal2, and O. O. Versolato1,3,†

  • *Contact author: kharbedia@arcnl.nl
  • †Contact author: versolato@arcnl.nl
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Phys. Rev. Fluids 11, 073602 – Published 13 July, 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/qq4m-rth6

Abstract

We report on singular jets in a free-falling liquid tin droplet following nanosecond laser-pulse impact. Following impact, the droplet (with diameter D0=50 or 70µm) undergoes rapid radial expansion and subsequent retraction, resulting in the formation of an axisymmetric jet. Using numerical simulations in tandem with our experiments, we reveal that a delicate interplay between radial flow and the curvature of the retracting droplet governs jet formation. The resulting dynamics is characterized using the impact Weber number, We (in the experiments 2≲We≲16), and a pressure width, W (typically 1≲W≲2), which describes the angular distribution over the droplet surface of the instantaneous pressure impulse exerted by the transient laser-produced plasma. For values We<10, the droplet presents a pronounced curvature during the retraction, leading to the formation of a cavity. The collapse of such a cavity leads to a singular jet that greatly enhances the jetting velocity up to ten times the impact propulsion velocity, an effect that narrowly peaks around We∼6–8, reminiscent of singular jets in droplet-solid impact. We identify a further sensitivity of the jet velocity enhancement on the pressure width W and capture the dynamics in a phase diagram connecting the various deformation morphologies with jet velocity.

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Phys. Rev. Fluids 11, 073602– Published 13 July, 2026
  • Received 13 February 2026
  • Accepted 16 June 2026
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