Leidenfrost hydrogels: Elastic surface-wave instability and sustained bouncing

Nathan C. J. Coombs; Peter Lewin-Jones; Mykyta V. Chubynsky; James E. Sprittles

doi:10.1103/xzg7-4gzy

Leidenfrost hydrogels: Elastic surface-wave instability and sustained bouncing

Nathan C. J. Coombs
, Peter Lewin-Jones
, Mykyta V. Chubynsky
, James E. Sprittles

Research Centre for Fluid and Complex Systems

University of Warwick
University of Bristol

Research output: Contribution to journal › Letter › peer-review

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Abstract

Leidenfrost hydrogel spheres exhibit interfacial oscillations that inject energy and drive sustained bouncing. Using a computational model, we identify these oscillations as an evaporation-driven instability of elastic surface waves. The resulting dynamics conform to a classical engine cycle [S. R. Waitukaitis , ], even in the absence of vapor trapping at the solid surface previously proposed as the injection mechanism.

Original language	English
Number of pages	6
Journal	Physical Review Research
Volume	8
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1103/xzg7-4gzy
Publication status	E-pub ahead of print - 17 Jun 2026

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2026 authors. Published by the American Physical Society.

Funding

Acknowledgment. This work was supported by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) under Grants No. EP/W031426/1, No. EP/S029966/1, No. EP/P031684/1, and No. UKRI3193.

Funders	Funder number
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council	EP/W031426/1, UKRI3193, EP/S029966/1, EP/P031684/1

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10.1103/xzg7-4gzyLicence: CC BY

Chubynsky2026VoRFinal published version, 1.6 MBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

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title = "Leidenfrost hydrogels: Elastic surface-wave instability and sustained bouncing",

abstract = "Leidenfrost hydrogel spheres exhibit interfacial oscillations that inject energy and drive sustained bouncing. Using a computational model, we identify these oscillations as an evaporation-driven instability of elastic surface waves. The resulting dynamics conform to a classical engine cycle [S. R. Waitukaitis , ], even in the absence of vapor trapping at the solid surface previously proposed as the injection mechanism.",

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AU - Coombs, Nathan C. J.

AU - Lewin-Jones, Peter

AU - Chubynsky, Mykyta V.

AU - Sprittles, James E.

PY - 2026/6/17

Y1 - 2026/6/17

N2 - Leidenfrost hydrogel spheres exhibit interfacial oscillations that inject energy and drive sustained bouncing. Using a computational model, we identify these oscillations as an evaporation-driven instability of elastic surface waves. The resulting dynamics conform to a classical engine cycle [S. R. Waitukaitis , ], even in the absence of vapor trapping at the solid surface previously proposed as the injection mechanism.

AB - Leidenfrost hydrogel spheres exhibit interfacial oscillations that inject energy and drive sustained bouncing. Using a computational model, we identify these oscillations as an evaporation-driven instability of elastic surface waves. The resulting dynamics conform to a classical engine cycle [S. R. Waitukaitis , ], even in the absence of vapor trapping at the solid surface previously proposed as the injection mechanism.

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105042550335

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DO - 10.1103/xzg7-4gzy

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JO - Physical Review Research

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Leidenfrost hydrogels: Elastic surface-wave instability and sustained bouncing

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