Tip streaming from drops flowing in a spiral microchannel

Abstract

This fluid dynamics video shows drops of water being transported by a mean flow of oil, in a microchannel shaped as a logarithmic spiral. The channel shape means that the drops are submitted to an increasing shear and elongation as they flow nearer to the center of the spiral. A critical point is reached at which a long singular tail is observed behind the drops, indicating that the drops are accelerating. This is called "Tip streaming".