Cavitation induced oil-in-water emulsification pathways using a single laser-induced bubble

The interaction between a single laser-induced cavitation bubble and a microsized water droplet is investigated experimentally. This interaction results in the fragmentation of the droplet as the bubble undergoes multiple cycles of expansion and collapse inside the droplet. In particular, we report three distinct pathways for the formation of oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions: crown jetting, oil finger rupture, and induced jetting. The formation of these internal O/W emulsions is usually a combination of either two or all three identified pathways. These observations offer insight into the formation process of cavitation-induced microemulsions.