Vorticity and Capillaries at the Surface of a Jet

Abstract

Shear layer instability at the free surface of a water jet is studied. The accompanying video shows experimental data recorded using measurement methods such as Planar Laser Induced Fluorescence (PLIF) and Particle Image Velocity (PIV). These results reveal the mechanisms leading to the formation of capillary waves on the surface due to the roll-up of the shear layer. These capillary waves eventually collide to each other, injecting vorticity in the bulk of the flow. Shear layer and injected vorticity interact to form a counter rotating vortex pair that moves down to the flow.