Cavitation in Fluid Dynamics

Mechanism

In the context of derivatives, cavitation refers to the rapid formation and collapse of liquidity voids within an order book during periods of extreme volatility. When market depth vanishes suddenly, the resulting vacuum causes price execution to deviate sharply from the mid-market, mimicking the structural degradation seen in fluid systems under high pressure. This phenomenon often occurs when automated market makers withdraw quotes simultaneously, leaving a transient gap in the trading environment that compromises settlement integrity.