Observation of axisymmetric solitary waves on the surface of a ferrofluid

We report the first observation of axisymmetric solitary waves on the surface of a cylindrical magnetic fluid layer surrounding a current-carrying metallic tube. According to the ratio between the magnetic and capillary forces, both elevation and depression solitary waves are observed with profiles...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Physical review letters 2010-03, Vol.104 (9), p.094502-094502, Article 094502
Main Authors: Bourdin, E, Bacri, J-C, Falcon, E
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:We report the first observation of axisymmetric solitary waves on the surface of a cylindrical magnetic fluid layer surrounding a current-carrying metallic tube. According to the ratio between the magnetic and capillary forces, both elevation and depression solitary waves are observed with profiles in good agreement with theoretical predictions based on the magnetic analogue of the Korteweg-de Vries equation. We also report the first measurements of the velocity and the dispersion relation of axisymmetric linear waves propagating on the cylindrical ferrofluid layer that are found in good agreement with theoretical predictions.
ISSN:0031-9007
1079-7114
DOI:10.1103/PhysRevLett.104.094502