PhD Studentship: Nonlinear waves on liquid cylinders

Overview

This PhD project at the University of East Anglia, supervised by Prof. Mark Blyth, studies nonlinear waves on liquid cylinders. Inviscid liquid jets under surface tension and without gravity are known to be unstable to long-wave perturbations, a phenomenon described by the classical Rayleigh-Plateau instability. When vorticity and swirl are included, Erhard and colleagues showed theoretically in 2022 that nonlinear travelling-wave solutions exist on such jets, but their detailed properties remain unexplored.

The project will develop new computational methods to compute and characterise these wave solutions, with particular emphasis on solitary waves and on analysing their stability. It will also extend the study to related configurations such as ferrofluid jets under vorticity and swirl. The mathematical and numerical techniques developed should deepen understanding of nonlinear waves in fluid mechanics and contribute to the broader theory of interfacial flows.

Requirements

The minimum entry requirement is a 2:1 in mathematics or physics.

What you get

The project is offered on a self-funded basis, open to applicants who are self-funded or are securing external funding. A bench fee is payable in addition to the tuition fee, and details are available from the primary supervisor. UEA alumni may be eligible for a tuition fee discount.

Key dates

Study can be full or part time, starting on 1 February 2027. The closing date is 30 November 2026.