×
 Physics at Virginia

"The Life and Death of a Drop: Transitions and Singularities"


Sidney Nagel , University of Chicago
[Host: Seunghun Lee]
ABSTRACT:

The exhilarating spray from waves crashing onto the shore, the distressing sound of a faucet leaking in the night, and the indispensable role of bubbles dissolving gas into the oceans are but a few examples of the ubiquitous presence and profound importance of drop formation and splashing in our lives. They are also examples of a liquid changing its topology as it breaks into pieces. Although part of our common everyday experience, these changes are far from understood and reveal profound surprises upon careful investigation. For example, in droplet fission the fluid forms a neck that becomes vanishingly thin at the point of breakup so that there is a dynamic singularity in which physical properties such as pressure diverge. Singularities of this sort often organize the overall dynamical evolution of nonlinear systems. In this lecture, I will give the life history of a drop – from its birth to its eventual demise – illustrating the passage of its existence with the scientific surprises that determine its fate.

Colloquium
Friday, August 29, 2014
3:30 PM
Physics Building, Room 204
Note special room.

 Add to your calendar

To add a speaker, send an email to phys-speakers@Virginia.EDU. Please include the seminar type (e.g. Colloquia), date, name of the speaker, title of talk, and an abstract (if available).