2D capillary liquid drops with constant vorticity: rotating waves existence and a conditional energetic stability result for rotating circles

Abstract

We consider a two-dimensional, pure capillary drop of nearly-circular shape, having constant vorticity. We write the Craig-Sulem equations on the unit circle, then on the flat torus. We show their Hamiltonian structure and we then observe symmetries and we derive constants of motions. After showing linear stability for rotating circles, we prove the existence of rotating waves by combining a bifurcation-theoretical approach together with critical point theory. Finally, by exploiting the Hamiltonian structure, we show that whenever volume and barycenter are fixed to be the same as those of rotating circle, this solution is also conditionally energetically stable. This holds in the irrotational case as well, in agreement with the stability analysis of rotating cylinder jets in Rayleigh [25].