Time-dependent gap Hele-Shaw cell with a ferrofluid: evidence for an interfacial singularity inhibition by a magnetic field.

We consider the flow of a ferrofluid droplet in a Hele-Shaw cell with a time-dependent gap width. When the surface tension and applied magnetic field are zero, interfacial instabilities develop and the droplet breaks. We execute a mode-coupling approach to the problem and focus on understanding how the development of singularities is affected by the action of an external field. Our analytical results indicate that the introduction of an azimuthal magnetic field profoundly modifies pattern formation, allowing the inhibition of interfacial singularities. We suggest the magnetic field can be used as a controllable parameter to discipline singular behavior.