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Gravitational Deceleration of Microscopic Liquid Droplets

R. Bruce Doak
Home Department - Physics
Areas of Study - Multidisciplinary Research based on Molecular and Droplet Beams
Office - PSF 326
Phone - 4809650640
E-mail - r.doak@asu.edu
Designation - Experimental

Nanoscale water droplets are the prime contener for injecting hydrated, complex biomolecules into the upcoming free electron laser and fourth generation synchrotrons in order to measure the structure of the biomolecule via x-ray diffraction. ASU is a leading international player in this effort. We have recently developed droplet beam sources that deliver microscopic droplets into vaccuum at speeds down to a few meters/sec. At 4 m/s, a droplet fired vertically upwards is gravitationally decelerated to zero velocity in 0.816 m and 0.408 s. These are easily attainable laboratory values. This project will investigate droplet stream deceleration and coalescence under these conditions.