NONLINEAR DYNAMICS OF THE FREE-SURFACE OF A CONDUCTING LIQUID IN AN ELECTRIC-FIELD

The nonlinear dynamics of the free surface of an ideal conducting liqu id in an external electric field is investigated. It is found that in the absence of gravity and surface tension the equations of the two-di mensional motion of the medium can be solved in the approximation of s mall angles of inclination of the surface. It is shown that singularit ies of the square-root type, for which the curvature is infinite but t he surface itself remains smooth, can form on the surface of a conduct ing liquid over a finite time. (C) 1998 American Institute of Physics. [S1063-7850(98)02106-5].