The Electric Honeycomb; an investigation of the Rose window instability

Abstract

The Rose window instability is a little-explored electrohydrodynamic instability that manifests when a layer of low-conducting oil is placed in an electric field generated by corona discharge in a point-to-plane configuration. Above a critical voltage, the instability starts as a single dimple in the oil layer right below the point electrode and subsequently evolves into a characteristic pattern of polygonal cells. In this study, we experimentally explore governing parameters that guide the instability and document geometric attributes of the characteristic cellular pattern. The driving force for the instability has been attributed to the buildup of charged ions which in turn apply an electric pressure on the oil surface. We confirm the charged surface distribution using thermal imaging and demonstrate that the instability can be locally inhibited by preventing charge buildup under an ion shadow.

Generation and Transport of Dielectric Droplets along Microchannels by Corona Discharge

“…The flow generated is generally referred to as electric wind or ion wind. Various patterns of three-dimensional electroconvective flow induced by ion wind in dielectric liquids have been investigated [15][16][17][18][19], especially the regular static cell structures [15,20,21]. At the same time, a number of previous reports refer this to the directional driving of the electric wind exerting upon the dielectric fluid [13,22].…”

Onwards and upwards: towards a sustainable future

“…Beyond the undoubted scientific success of Royal Society Open Science , it has been gratifying to see the wide coverage the journal regularly receives in the popular press. A couple of noteworthy examples spring to mind: firstly, at 17 years old, possibly our youngest author published ‘The Electric Honeycomb; an investigation of the Rose window instability' [ 4 ]. This paper, and its accompanying blog (the video is worth watching) ( (accessed 20 December 2017)), is a fine example of Royal Society Open Science supporting research regardless of its source.…”