The change in the bifurcation characteristics of a suddenly expanding jet is studied ex-
perimentally and computationally by comparing the flow in a sudden planar expansion

with the flow in a sudden axisymmetric expansion of the same expansion ratio. The
schlieren photography and powder flow visualization showed that the jet asymmetry
is amplified in sudden planar expansion compared to sudden axisymmetric expansion.

The velocity profiles using Laser Doppler Velocimetry (LDV) and the pressure mea-
surements in the recirculation bubble near the step of the geometry revealed that the

pressure equilibrium achieved in the recirculation bubble of the sudden axisymmetric

expansion is responsible for its increased jet stability. This hypothesis is proved to sup-
press the jet asymmetry by creating a communication pathway between two detached

recirculation bubbles in sudden planar expansion. A novel mixing nozzle for flow con-
trol is devised and tested in both subsonic and supersonic flow regimes based on this

hypothesis.