Electrostatic instability of a heavily charged conducting liquid jet

The effect of electric charge on the jet surface on the capillary instability of the jet and its disintegration into drops is analyzed. A theoretical explanation is given for the electrostatic mechanism of instability development and jet disintegration that is akin to the mechanisms behind the instability of a heavily charged drop (Rayleigh instability) and flat uniformly charged liquid surface (Tonks-Frenkel instability) but differs qualitatively from the conventional capillary mechanism of instability and disintegration.