On the bubble shape in a magnetically compensated gravity environment

Abstract We investigate the shape of bubbles in liquid oxygen under magnetic levitation conditions: a magnetic field is applied that polarizes bulk oxygen, and its spatial variation induces a body force opposed to its weight. In these conditions, bubbles appear to have a smooth ellipsoidal shape, which may be prolate (elongated in the vertical direction), oblate (elongated in the horizontal plane) or perfectly spherical. The dependence of the elongation ratio $\eta $ on the volume and levitation position is explored. It is found that the bubble shape is prescribed by the minimization of the sum of surface tension, demagnetization and magnetic–gravitational potential energies.