On the influence of near zero gravity on the Rosensweig instability in magnetic fluids

We investigate how an enhanced (1.8 g) and reduced (10 -2 g) gravitational force influences the instability threshold and the pattern formed for the Rosensweig instability in ferrofluids. From the results of our parabolic flights it emerges that we can confirm quantitatively the predictions from the...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Physics letters. A 1991-09, Vol.159 (1), p.55-60
Main Authors: Pettit, Donald R., Brand, Helmut R.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Classical and quantum physics: mechanics and fields
Classical mechanics of continuous media: general mathematical aspects
Exact sciences and technology
Physics
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Summary:We investigate how an enhanced (1.8 g) and reduced (10 -2 g) gravitational force influences the instability threshold and the pattern formed for the Rosensweig instability in ferrofluids. From the results of our parabolic flights it emerges that we can confirm quantitatively the predictions from the ferrohydrodynamic equations for the scaling with gravity of the critical values of the wavelength and the magnetic field for enhanced gravity. For reduced gravity we observe above threshold qualitatively new patterns that have not been predicted and we give a qualitative explanation.
ISSN:0375-9601
1873-2429
DOI:10.1016/0375-9601(91)90161-Z