Plateau-Rayleigh instability in nanoscale polymer rings*

A liquid jet can break up into a stream of droplets as a result of the Plateau-Rayleigh instability. Droplet formation decreases the jet's surface area and hence its free energy. Here we present the results of experiments in an unconventional geometry where this instability can be observed: toroidal sections. We discuss the formation of toroidal polystyrene with nanometer length scales. The constraints imposed by this geometry affect its observed instability in comparison to a simple linear jet. Specifically,the curvature imposed by the ring plays a crucial role in the energy minimization route.