Dynamics of a dielectric droplet suspended in a magnetic fluid in electric and magnetic fields

The behavior of a microdrop of dielectric liquid suspended in a magnetic fluid and exposed to the action of electric and magnetic fields is studied experimentally. With increasing electric field, the deformation of droplets into oblate ellipsoid, toroid and curved toroid was observed. At the further increase in the electric field, the bursting of droplets was also revealed. The electrorotation of deformed droplets was observed and investigated. The influence of an additional magnetic field on the droplet dynamics was studied. The main features of the droplet dynamics were interpreted and theoretically examined.

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► Dielectric drop confined in a thin film has a specific behavior in an electric field.
► Confined droplet can take toroidal and curved shapes in an electric field.
► Large droplet relaxation time leads to an effect of unusual electrorotation.
► Dielectric droplet in a magnetic fluid can react to both electric and magnetic fields.
► Simultaneous action of both fields leads to the new droplet behavior features.