Development paths of the instability of a highly charged viscous droplet

Analysis is presented of the effect on the instability of a droplet of viscous liquid induced by its self-charge of such physical factors as corona discharge initiated in its vicinity and self-sustaining due to photoionization, evaporation of the liquid, and field vaporization of the charge. It has been shown that droplets of micron and submicron size lose their excess charge primarily due to field vaporization.