Shape oscillation of a sessile drop under the effect of high frequency amplitude-modulated magnetic field

Abstract

The shape oscillation behavior of a sessile mercury drop under the effect of high frequency amplitude-modulated magnetic field (AMMF) is investigated experimentally. It is an effective method to excite the shape oscillation of a liquid metal sessile drop. The high frequency AMMF is generated by a solenoid inductor fed by a specially designed alternating electric current. The surface contour of the sessile drop is observed by a digital camera. At a given modulation frequency and magnetic flux density of the high frequency AMMF, the edge deformations of the drop with azimuthal wave numbers (modes n = 2, 3, 4, 5, 6) were excited. A stability diagram of the shape oscillation of the drop is obtained by analysis of the experimental data. It turns out that when the modulation frequency and magnetic flux density reach a point in the stability diagram which can trigger shape oscillations of the drop of several modes, the shape oscillation of different modes may be seen alternatively.