On the mechanism of emission of ions from charged droplets

The condition of instability of a charged liquid droplet, Q(2) > 16 pi a(3) T, is frequently used for development of mechanism of emission of ions from liquids (a and Q are the radius and the charge of the droplet, and T is th e coefficient of surface tension of the liquid). This condition arises when determining solution of the problem about vibrations of a spherical charge d droplet of an ideal and incompressible liquid. It is shown that the const ancy with time of the volume of the vibrating droplet following from incomp ressibility of the droplet was not taken into account. This suggests the in correctness of the conventional solution and the condition of the instabili ty. (C) 2000 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.