Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 15, 2026

High Throughput Analysis of Liquid Droplet Impacts
Published on: March 6, 2020
Shaping and Controlled Fragmentation of Liquid Metal Droplets through Cavitation
M S Krivokorytov1,2, Q Zeng3, B V Lakatosh1
1Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (State University), Institutskiy pereulok str. 9, Dolgoprudny, Moscow region, 141701, Russia.
Abstract:
Targeting micrometer sized metal droplets with near-infrared sub-picosecond laser pulses generates intense stress-confined acoustic waves within the droplet. Spherical focusing amplifies their pressures. The rarefaction wave nucleates cavitation at the center of the droplet, which explosively expands with a repeatable fragmentation scenario resulting into high-speed jetting. We predict the number of jets as a function of the laser energy by coupling the cavitation bubble dynamics with Rayleigh-Taylor instabilities. This provides a path to control cavitation and droplet shaping of liquid metals in particular for their use as targets in extreme-UV light sources.
Related Concept Videos
Habitat Fragmentation
Bonding in Metals
Metallic Solids
All metallic solids exhibit high thermal and electrical conductivity, metallic luster, and malleability....
Alkali Metals
Table 1: Properties of the alkali metals
Molecular Comparison of Gases, Liquids, and Solids
Molecular Shape and Polarity

