Transition between spiral and target states in Rayleigh-Bénard convection

Rayleigh-Benard convection in SF6 near its thermodynamic critical point resulted in a continuous transition between states containing many spirals and many targets. This form of convection is generally considered a paradigm for pattern formation under nonequilibrium conditions. The formation of hexa...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nature (London) 1994-01, Vol.367 (6461), p.345-347
Main Authors: Assenheimer, Michel, Steinberg, Victor
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Buoyancy-driven instability
Convection
Convection and heat transfer
Exact sciences and technology
Fluid dynamics
Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications)
Hydrodynamic stability
Phase transitions
Physics
Thermodynamics
Topology
Turbulent flows, convection, and heat transfer
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Rayleigh-Benard convection in SF6 near its thermodynamic critical point resulted in a continuous transition between states containing many spirals and many targets. This form of convection is generally considered a paradigm for pattern formation under nonequilibrium conditions. The formation of hexagonal arrays of Benard cells is well known, but more complex patterns, namely spirals and targets, have also been observed. The Prandtl number--the ratio between the thermal and viscous timescales in the fluid--determined which pattern was observed. The patterns were probably generated by the same or similar mechanisms, as the transformation from one pattern into another was continuous, and patterns coexisted under some conditions. Of theoretical interest is the question of how patterns of such different symmetry and topology are related.
ISSN:0028-0836
1476-4687
DOI:10.1038/367345a0