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

Journal Article · Mon Oct 28 00:00:00 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), Vol. 67:18; ISSN 0031-9007
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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