Asymmetric modes and the transition to vortex structures in rotating Rayleigh-Benard convection

Journal Article · Mon Oct 28 04:00:00 EST 1991 · Physical Review Letters; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.67.2473· OSTI ID:5122807

Zhong, F; Ecke, R; Steinberg, V ^[1]

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1. Physics Division and Center for Nonlinear Studies, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico (USA)

We report heat transport measurements and optical shadowgraph visualization of rotating Rayleigh-Benard convection. For dimensionless rotation rates 140{lt}{Omega}{lt}4300, the initial transition to convection, occurring at a Rayleigh number {ital R} much less than the linear-stability value for roll or vortex states, is a forward Hopf bifurcation to an azimuthally asymmetric state with mode number {ital n}. States with {ital n}=3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 exist at low to moderate {ital R} and precess with frequencies that depend on {ital R} and {Omega}. At higher {ital R} there is a continuous transition to a state with noisy, time-dependent heat transport, a distinct array of vortices in the central region, and a modulation of the precession speed of the outer structures.

• OSTI ID: 5122807
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters; (United States), Journal Name: Physical Review Letters; (United States) Vol. 67:18; ISSN PRLTA; ISSN 0031-9007
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
420400* -- Engineering-- Heat Transfer & Fluid Flow
ASYMMETRY
AZIMUTH
CONVECTION
DATA
ENERGY TRANSFER
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FLOW VISUALIZATION
HEAT TRANSFER
HEATING
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INFORMATION
INSTABILITY
MASS TRANSFER
MOTION
NUMERICAL DATA
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHOTOGRAPHY
ROTATION
TIME DEPENDENCE
VORTICES
WATER