Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 9, 2026

Induction of Microstreaming by Nonspherical Bubble Oscillations in an Acoustic Levitation System
Published on: May 9, 2021
Faraday Wave Singularities Trigger Microbubble Jetting
Marco Cattaneo1, Louan Presse1, Outi Supponen1
1ETH Zürich, Institute of Fluid Dynamics, Zürich, Switzerland.
Abstract:
Wall-attached bubbles can produce repeated jets under gentle ultrasound stimulation through the Faraday instability. We identify three distinct jetting regimes defined by the jetting frequency and the bubble surface topology. We demonstrate that these jets form via flow-focusing singularities following two distinct collapse modes of the bubble interface: conical, producing a jet toward the substrate, or parabolic, generating a pair of oppositely directed jets. Scaling laws governing these collapse events are derived, revealing a universal self-similar structure governed by inertia and capillarity. Furthermore, we establish the dependence of the interface acceleration for jetting on driving frequency and characterize the jet speed as a function of Faraday wave height and bubble size. These findings may inform the design of low-power biofilm removal ultrasound systems and contribute to improved safety in targeted drug delivery.
Related Concept Videos
Shock Waves
When the source's speed approaches the speed of sound, constructive interference between successive wavefronts emitted by the source occurs immediately behind it. Initially, scientists believed that this constructive interference would result in such high...
Standing Waves in a Cavity
Excess Pressure Inside a Drop and a Bubble
Free Jet
Electromagnetic Waves
Couette Flow

