Abstract: | The problem of the magnetic field-driven rotation of a magnetic fluid droplet in a viscous nonmagnetic fluid is solved analytically
and experimentally. The shape of the droplet and the magnetic fields and velocities of both fluids are calculated in the weak-field
approximation. The droplet is flattened for any relations between the parameters of the system. The instability of the axisymmetric
shape of the droplet is established experimentally. A result of the instability is a sudden change in the droplet shape from
a flattened ellipsoid of revolution to a triaxial ellipsoid elongated in the equatorial plane. The critical magnetic Bond
number is determined.
Perm’. Translated from Izvestiya Rossiiskoi Akademii Nauk, Mekhanika Zhidkosti i Gaza, No. 1, pp. 22–30, January–February,
2000.
The work was carried out with the support of the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (project No. 98-01-00182). |