Self-propulsion of inverse Leidenfrost drops on a cryogenic bath

• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1812288116
• Publication Date: 2019-01-08T03:10:08Z
• Authors: Anaïs Gauthier; Christian Diddens; Rémi Proville; Detlef Lohse; Devaraj van der Meer
• Keywords: Leidenfrost effect; Liquid nitrogen

When deposited on a hot bath, volatile drops are observed to stay in levitation: the so-called Leidenfrost effect. Here, we discuss drop dynamics an inverse situation where room-temperature liquid nitrogen pool, and levitate vapor film generated by evaporation of bath. In seconds following deposition, observe that droplets start glide bath along straight path, only disrupted elastic bouncing close edges container. Initially at rest, these self-propelled accelerate within few reach velocities order cm/s before slowing down longer time scale. They remain as long they sitting even after freezing cooling temperature. We experimentally investigate parameters affect motion, propose model, based numerically (stable) symmetry breaking supports drop. also thickness modeled, variations can be accurately reproduced.