Abstract
Motivated by recent experiments, we discuss a capillary instability that arises in funnel-shaped, deep-cell roots during directional solidification. A linear stability analysis of thin, axisymmetric roots reveals that due to surface energy, the roots are always unstable. The eventual outcome of this instability in experiments is a break-up of the root into droplets. The distance between successive droplet centers is in reasonable agreement with the wavelength of the fastest growing mode

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