The number of jet drops produced from small bursting bubbles*

When a small bubble ruptures at a liquid-air interface, the cavity collapses and propels a jet of liquid upward that can break into several jet drops.  Prior studies have suggested that the number of jet drops increases as the size of the bubble decreases. Yet, viscosity prevents droplet production altogether for sufficiently small bubbles.  Here we explore the number of jet drops produced by bubbles near this viscous limit. Using a combination of high-speed imaging, dynamic similitude, and numerical simulations, we find that there is a maximum number of drops that are likely to be produced at a given size.  By considering the bubble distribution generated by breaking waves, our results allow us to estimate the size-dependent flux of sea-spray aerosol from jet drops.