Rotating Rayleigh-Benard convection: Aspect-ratio dependence of the initial bifurcations

Journal Article · Sat May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1993 · Physical Review. E, Statistical Physics, Plasmas, Fluids, and Related Interdisciplinary Topics; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.47.3326· OSTI ID:6772401

Ning, L; Ecke, R E ^[1]

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1. Physics Division and Center for Nonlinear Studies, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545 (United States)

The initial bifurcations in rotating Rayleigh-Benard convection are studied in the range of dimensionless rotation rate 0[lt][Omega][lt]2150 for a cylindrical cell with an aspect ratio of 2.5. We used simultaneous optical-shadowgraph, heat-transport, and local-temperature measurements to determine the stability and characteristics of the azimuthally periodic wall convection state. We also show that the second transition corresponds to the onset of bulk convection. Our results for critical Rayleigh numbers, precession frequencies, and critical mode numbers agree well with theoretical results. The dynamics of the wall convection state can be described by a complex Ginzburg-Landau amplitude equation.

• OSTI ID: 6772401
• Journal Information: Physical Review. E, Statistical Physics, Plasmas, Fluids, and Related Interdisciplinary Topics; (United States), Journal Name: Physical Review. E, Statistical Physics, Plasmas, Fluids, and Related Interdisciplinary Topics; (United States) Vol. 47:5; ISSN 1063-651X; ISSN PLEEE8
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

661300* -- Other Aspects of Physical Science-- (1992-)
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
CONVECTIVE INSTABILITIES
FLUID FLOW
GINZBURG-LANDAU THEORY
INSTABILITY
MOTION
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PLASMA INSTABILITY
ROTATION
TEMPERATURE DISTRIBUTION
WALL EFFECTS