The visualization shows the plunging of closely arranged multiple water jets into a quiescent water bath maintained at a constant level. Unlike the well-studied case of a single plunging jet, this configuration produces an inverted dome-shaped cavity beneath the free surface. The cavity is surrounded by several elongated, air-filled fingers that subsequently break up to form bubbles, exhibiting dynamics that are distinctly different from those observed for a single jet.

Beyond these macroscopic structures, the visualization also reveals the formation of extremely thin air sheets between adjacent jets. The rupture of these air sheets leads to the production of microscopic bubbles. While air-sheet-mediated bubble generation has previously been demonstrated numerically in the context of breaking waves, its experimental observation in a controlled multi-jet system is new. Moreover, the very existence of a stable inverted dome beneath the free surface represents an unreported phenomenon. Overall, this visualization uncovers unexplored modes of air entrainment in multi-jet systems.

The visualization was captured through laboratory-scale experiments in which multiple water jets were generated using a custom injector assembly consisting of a plate with holes arranged in a hexagonal pattern. Tap water was supplied to the injector using a heavy-duty pump, producing closely spaced jets that plunge into a water tank. The jets and the resulting dome structure were captured using back-lit high-speed imaging at frame rates of 6,000 fps and 10,000 fps, respectively.

Being selected as a finalist is deeply meaningful to me, both professionally and personally. I submitted this entry while I was in the final stages of preparing my PhD thesis submission. I received the notification that I was a finalist shortly after submitting my thesis, with the final round taking place just five days before my thesis defence. The timing made the experience emotionally intense, with a mix of happiness, anxiety, and excitement. It marked a transition from completing a major academic milestone to receiving recognition from the wider fluid mechanics community. I was also very excited about the opportunity to visit Sweden and KTH Royal Institute of Technology. Visiting KTH and interacting with researchers in such a strong fluid mechanics community made this experience particularly memorable and rewarding.

The dome provides a unique laboratory-scale tool to study bubble production across multiple scales, as well as bubble coalescence and fragmentation under controllable turbulence. Understanding microbubble production is particularly important for natural processes, as microbubbles play a central role in oxygen transfer in water bodies. Moreover, this work represents a step toward modelling air entrainment in practical scenarios, where a jet often breaks into multiple streams that plunge together and may form transient cavity structures similar to the observed dome, generating bubbles over a wide range of scales.

My interest in fluid mechanics was triggered during an internship at a research laboratory in India, where I worked on pulse detonation engines. This experience initially drew me toward aerospace engineering, but during my master’s and PhD studies I gradually moved toward more fundamental experimental fluid dynamics.

What motivates me most is capturing the unknown, forming ideas about underlying flow behaviour, and the curiosity to test those ideas. The feeling that there is always something more to understand keeps me engaged and eager to continue this work.

In five years, I see myself still learning and exploring fluid mechanics, with a strong focus on experiments and visualization. Rather than following a rigid plan, I want to continue developing a deeper physical understanding of complex flows and remain open to where that curiosity leads, whether within academia, research laboratories, or applied research settings.

In fact, this is advice I often give myself. Focus on being simple, elegant, and clear in your work, and do not become discouraged when progress feels slow. Skills develop over time, but perseverance is essential in research.

Presenting at the ERCOFTAC Spring Festival was both challenging and rewarding. I felt a strong sense of responsibility in representing my supervisor and my institution. Among the five finalists, I was the only PhD student, presenting alongside more experienced researchers, which made the experience both intimidating and motivating. In many ways, it felt like a rehearsal for my PhD defence. It pushed me to clearly convey my ideas to a broader audience beyond my immediate research community.

It gives me confidence at a key moment in my career and encourages me to keep exploring fluid mechanics with the same curiosity and clarity.