Interfacial electrohydrodynamic instability in normal electric field

Abstract
Surface‐coupled electrohydrodynamic instability at the interface between miscible fluid components with identical permittivity, mass density, and viscosity but disparate conductivities, as stressed by an equilibrium normal electric field, is described in the instantaneous relaxation limit. Long wave, inertia‐dominated and short wave, viscous‐dominated regimes of the dispersion relation are identified. Experimental studies, using freon 113 as a base liquid, compare observed interfacial displacements as functions of time with growth rates predicted by the model. Correlation varies from almost perfect to experimental growth only 0.1 as fast as predicted by theory, with all observed motions in the inertia‐dominated regime. Instability dynamics at the scale of interfacial conductivity distribution are documented by allowing diffusion before electric field application.

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