Conditions for the electrostatic production of a jet of insulating liquid

Calculations of the growth rate of the capillary instability of a thin jet are presented. For a given jet radius and surface charge density, calculations show that when the axial electric field reaches a certain value, the growth rate of the instability drops dramatically. For large enough axial fields, the interaction of the field and the charge acts to stabilize the jet, whereas for lower fields the free charge forces are destabilizing. This required electric field is larger for smaller jet radii. For each value of jet radius and charge density there is an optimum electric field for stability.<>