Spiral defect chaos in a model of Rayleigh-Benard convection

Journal Article · Mon Sep 27 00:00:00 EDT 1993 · Physical Review Letters; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.71.2030· OSTI ID:5946094

Xi, H; Gunton, J D ^[1]; Vinals, J ^[2]

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1. Department of Physics, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18015 (United States)
2. Supercomputer Computations Research Institute, B-186, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida 32306-4052 (United States) Department of Chemical Engineering, B-203, Florida Agrigultural and Mechanical University/Florida State University College of Engineering, Tallahassee, Florida 32316-2185 (United States)

A numerical solution of a generalized Swift-Hohenberg equation in two dimensions reveals the existence of a spatiotemporal chaotic state comprised of a large number of rotating spirals. This state is observed for a reduced Rayleigh number [epsilon]=0.25. The power spectrum of the state is isotropic, and the spatial correlation function decays exponentially, with an estimated decay length [xi][approx]2.5[lambda][sub [ital c]], where [lambda][sub [ital c]] is the critical wavelength near the onset of convection. Our study suggests that this spiral defect state occurs for low Prandtl numbers and large aspect ratios.

• DOE Contract Number: FC05-85ER25000
• OSTI ID: 5946094
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters; (United States), Journal Name: Physical Review Letters; (United States) Vol. 71:13; ISSN 0031-9007; ISSN PRLTAO
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

665000* -- Physics of Condensed Matter-- (1992-)
75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
ASPECT RATIO
CONVECTION
CORRELATION FUNCTIONS
ENERGY TRANSFER
FUNCTIONS
HEAT TRANSFER
ISOTROPY
MASS TRANSFER
NUMERICAL SOLUTION
PRANDTL NUMBER
STOCHASTIC PROCESSES
TWO-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS