Abstract The self-assembled clusters of regularly positioned small droplets were observed for the first time in 2004 by Alexander Fedorets. The recent results on stabilization of droplet clusters enable the laboratory study of specific parameters of chemical and biochemical reactions in the microdroplets. However, the analysis of the cluster behavior under the action of external factors is also continued. Some new experimental findings concerning behavior of a cluster of water droplets levitating over the locally heated water surface are reported in the present paper. It is shown that an external electric field leads not only to an increase in the rate of a condensational growth of droplets but also to a relatively early coalescence of small droplets with water layer. The latter is partially explained by the attraction force arising due to polarization of droplets closely spaced to the water surface. The effect of electric field on size of droplets before their coalescence with water layer is used to estimate an electrical charge of single droplets at the experimental conditions. It is shown that this electric charge does not change the aerodynamic nature of the main forces responsible for both the self-arranging and levitation of small water droplets. The results obtained are expected to be useful for further theoretical modeling of the phenomenon of levitating droplets clusters.

中文翻译：

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外电场对悬浮水滴动力学的影响

摘要 Alexander Fedorets 于 2004 年首次观察到规则定位的小液滴的自组装簇。最近关于稳定液滴簇的结果使实验室能够研究微液滴中化学和生化反应的特定参数。但是，对外部因素作用下的集群行为的分析也在继续。本文报道了一些关于悬浮在局部加热水表面上的水滴簇行为的新实验发现。结果表明，外部电场不仅导致液滴凝结生长速率的增加，而且导致小液滴与水层相对较早地聚结。后者的部分原因是由于靠近水面的液滴极化而产生的吸引力。电场对液滴与水层合并之前的尺寸的影响用于估计实验条件下单个液滴的电荷。结果表明，这种电荷不会改变负责小水滴自排列和悬浮的主要力量的空气动力学性质。预计获得的结果将有助于对悬浮液滴簇现象的进一步理论建模。电场对液滴与水层合并之前的尺寸的影响用于估计实验条件下单个液滴的电荷。结果表明，这种电荷不会改变负责小水滴自排列和悬浮的主要力量的空气动力学性质。预计获得的结果将有助于对悬浮液滴簇现象的进一步理论建模。电场对液滴与水层合并之前的尺寸的影响用于估计实验条件下单个液滴的电荷。结果表明，这种电荷不会改变负责小水滴自排列和悬浮的主要力量的空气动力学性质。预计获得的结果将有助于对悬浮液滴簇现象的进一步理论建模。