Occurrence of giant plasma bubble in liquid

Abstract

Fluid interfaces are generally known to deform or fragment in accordance with the Rayleigh limit theory under the influence of charged particles. Here, we present experimental evidence of a cross-scale transition from microscopic to macroscopic bubbles in a charged liquid-gas fluid system under a strong electric field. Contrary to predictions based on the Rayleigh limit theory, this phenomenon arises from interactions between ionized matter and natural particles. The resulting plasma bubbles and interfacial phenomena between weakly ionized gas and liquid have significant implications for hydrodynamics and interfacial stability. Our study reveals the relationship between bubble morphology, interface perturbations, and the contribution of electrons and ions to the interface. This discovery of giant plasma bubble generation in liquid unveils a new class of fluid behavior, providing insights into interface physics and interface-enhanced mass transfer in plasma-liquid systems.