Fig. 5. Zoomed-in images of droplet atomization through mask A.

(A) Impingement on a single-layer mask A is recorded at 20,000 fps and We ~ 880. The impacting droplet extrudes through the mask layer as a cylindrical ligament (t = 50 μs) whose length increases over time (t = 50 to 150 μs). Unstable waves are formed on the surface of the ligament, which grows in amplitude (t = 250 to 300 μs) and leads to its atomization into tiny droplets (t = 350 μs) via the Rayleigh plateau instability. (B) Impingement on a double-layer mask. The total number count of the daughter droplets is significantly less, and no ligament formation is observed (t = 100 to 500 μs). Similar results are observed for mask B (see fig. S5). Scale bar description is included in the figures.