Triad resonant wave interactions in electrically charged jets

Nonlinear instability in electrically charged jets is studied using the governing electro-hydrodynamic equations describing stretching and thinning of a liquid jet. A jet flow system subject to both space and time evolving disturbances is considered. At the linear stage, the Rayleigh and conducting jet flow instability modes are uncovered.Nonlinear instability in the flow is explored via triad resonant waves which uncover favorable operating modes not previously detected in the linear study of the problem. In particular, the jet radius is significantly reduced, and the electric field of the jet is properly oriented under the nonlinear study. It is found that taking into account the resonance triad modes provides a better mathematical description of a jet that stretches and thins due to tangential electric field effects. Both linear and nonlinear instability results in the jet flow system are presented and discussed.