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Controlled drop generation via ligament extraction from a static or vibrating liquid bath

Johnathan Hoggarth1, Daniel M. Harris2, John W. M. Bush3, and Bauyrzhan K. Primkulov1,*

  • *Contact author: bauyrzhan.primkulov@yale.edu
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Phys. Rev. Fluids 11, L082001 – Published 26 August, 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/rb19-76wc

Abstract

We use a simple method for generating droplets at the surface of a liquid bath by rapidly stretching a liquid ligament with a spring-loaded cylindrical probe. By varying the probe radius a and retraction length L, we identify three regimes. Overstretching a thin ligament produces multiple drops, while insufficient stretching of a thick ligament yields none. The optimal regime for single-drop generation lies in between. In the single-drop regime, the drop radius scales as R∼a2/3L1/3, consistent with volume conservation of the stretched ligament. This method enables repeatable generation of single droplets (with <5% variation in R) on both still and vibrating baths and of ordered droplet lattices for pilot-wave hydrodynamics experiments.

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Phys. Rev. Fluids 11, L082001– Published 26 August, 2026
  • Received 19 May 2026
  • Accepted 29 July 2026
Article part of CHORUS
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