Surface waves produced by parametric excitation experience a transition between simply connected waves and droplet-ejecting waves when the applied forcing exceeds a threshold level. Our measurements on a number of different fluids indicate that low-viscosity fluids have threshold accelerations which depend on only surface tension and forcing frequency while high viscosity fluids have thresholds which depend on only viscosity and forcing frequency. Models for the transition based on the condition that the wavelength, waveheight ratio approaches a fixed value at the transition are consistent with our observations. ͓S1063-651X͑97͒05207-0͔

Parametrically excited surface waves (Faraday waves) are studied near the threshold for breaking. The breaking state ejects droplets from wave peaks when the applied forcing exceeds an acceleration threshold. The rate of breaking events approaches zero gradually with decreasing acceleration. Two properties of these ejections were studied around the ejection threshold. Analysis of the ejection rate dependence on acceleration allows a determination of the ejection threshold and an inference about the wave height distribution. A Poisson distribution is found for the times between ejections. [S0031-9007(99)08902-4]

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