The subtle dynamics of liquid sheets

Liquid sheets are a generic occurrence in nature. They provide a key pathway by which liquid matter breaks up and is dispersed into smaller entities, as in the formation of sprays. However, the stability of liquid sheets is surprisingly subtle, and involves a range of physical effects, without which a quantitative understanding is impossible. As a result, even the linear stability of liquid sheets has remained open for over half a decade. Now, by a combination of experiment and thorough theoretical analysis by Tammisola et al. (J. Fluid Mech., this issue, vol. 672, 2011, pp. 5-32), we have finally gained a solid understanding of the key factors that control the initial stages of sheet breakup.