Breakup and atomization of a stretching crown.

This study is devoted to experimental and theoretical investigation of splash produced by spray impact onto a smooth, rigid target under microgravity conditions. In particular, the formation of a film by the deposited liquid, the propagation and breakup of uprising sheets created by drop impacts, and the creation of secondary droplets have been observed. Three scenarios of splash have been identified during the experiments: (i) cusp formation and jetting due to the rim transverse instability, (ii) sheet destruction and the consequent rapid axisymmetric capillary breakup of a free rim, and (iii) the rim merging.