Instability of ferrofluid magnetic drops under magnetic field

Abstract

We have followed the evolution of the shape of ferrofluid magnetic drops in presence of a magnetic field. The prolate ellipsoid shape of the drop becomes unstable for a certain magnetic field threshold : the drop jumps from a slightly elongated shape to a much more elongated shape. When decreasing the magnetic field the same feature occurs for a smaller threshold. This instability is simply understood from a balance between magnetic energy and interfacial tension energy