Leidenfrost Wheels

APS Physics - 2017-11-14

Leidenfrost Wheels

Ambre Bouillant, PMMH (ESPCI Paris) - LadHyX (Ecole polytechnique)
Timothée Mouterde, PMMH (ESPCI Paris) - LadHyX (Ecole polytechnique)
Philippe Bourrianne, PMMH (ESPCI Paris) - LadHyX (Ecole polytechnique)
Christophe Clanet, PMMH (ESPCI Paris) - LadHyX (Ecole polytechnique)
David Quéré, PMMH (ESPCI Paris) - LadHyX (Ecole polytechnique)

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/APS.DFD.2017.GFM.V0052

The high mobility of Leidenfrost drops is commonly attributed to the lack of contact with the hot substrate, and it makes them sensitive to tiny forces, such as gravity or airflows. We show that droplets generate their own dynamics and self-propel despite the absence of external field, which contributes to their legendary mobility.

See other videos from the 2017 Gallery of Fluid Motion: https://gfm.aps.org/