Fluid instabilities in the birth and death of antibubbles

Abstract

Antibubbles have been produced and studied with the help of a high-speed camera. An antibubble is defined as a fluid object constituted by a thin air shell surrounding a liquid and surrounded by the same liquid. Images reveal some key physical processes and fluid instabilities which take place when an antibubble forms and dies. The collapsing speed of the air film has been measured. Culik's theory does not apply. A new mechanism has been introduced.