Hexagonal patterns in a model for rotating convection

We study a model equation that mimics convection under rotation in a fluid with temperature- dependent properties (non-Boussinesq (NB)), high Prandtl number and idealized boundary conditions. It is based on a model equation proposed by Segel [1965] by adding rotation terms that lead to a Kuppers-Lortz instability [Kuppers & Lortz, 1969] and can develop into oscillating hexagons. We perform a weakly nonlinear analysis to find out explicitly the coefficients in the amplitude equation as functions of the rotation rate. These equations describe hexagons and os- cillating hexagons quite well, and include the Busse?Heikes (BH) model [Busse & Heikes, 1980] as a particular case. The sideband instabilities as well as short wavelength instabilities of such hexagonal patterns are discussed and the threshold for oscillating hexagons is determined

Instabilities and Spatio-temporal Chaos of Long-wave Hexagon Patterns in Rotating Marangoni Convection

We consider surface-tension driven convection in a rotating fluid layer. For nearly insulating boundary conditions we derive a long-wave equation for the convection planform. Using a Galerkin method and direct numerical simulations we study the stability of the steady hexagonal patterns with respect to general side-band instabilities. In the presence of rotation steady and oscillatory instabilities are identified. One of them leads to stable, homogeneously oscillating hexagons. For sufficiently large rotation rates the stability balloon closes, rendering all steady hexagons unstable and leading to spatio-temporal chaos.Comment: 26 pages, 9 jpeg figures. Postscript file with all figures included available at http://www.esam.northwestern.edu/~riecke/lit/lit.html Movies available at http://www.esam.northwestern.edu/~riecke/research/Marangoni/marangoni.htm

Whirling Hexagons and Defect Chaos in Hexagonal Non-Boussinesq Convection

We study hexagon patterns in non-Boussinesq convection of a thin rotating layer of water. For realistic parameters and boundary conditions we identify various linear instabilities of the pattern. We focus on the dynamics arising from an oscillatory side-band instability that leads to a spatially disordered chaotic state characterized by oscillating (whirling) hexagons. Using triangulation we obtain the distribution functions for the number of pentagonal and heptagonal convection cells. In contrast to the results found for defect chaos in the complex Ginzburg-Landau equation and in inclined-layer convection, the distribution functions can show deviations from a squared Poisson distribution that suggest non-trivial correlations between the defects.Comment: 4 mpg-movies are available at http://www.esam.northwestern.edu/~riecke/lit/lit.html submitted to New J. Physic

Reentrant and Whirling Hexagons in Non-Boussinesq convection

We review recent computational results for hexagon patterns in non-Boussinesq convection. For sufficiently strong dependence of the fluid parameters on the temperature we find reentrance of steady hexagons, i.e. while near onset the hexagon patterns become unstable to rolls as usually, they become again stable in the strongly nonlinear regime. If the convection apparatus is rotated about a vertical axis the transition from hexagons to rolls is replaced by a Hopf bifurcation to whirling hexagons. For weak non-Boussinesq effects they display defect chaos of the type described by the two-dimensional complex Ginzburg-Landau equation. For stronger non-Boussinesq effects the Hopf bifurcation becomes subcritical and localized bursting of the whirling amplitude is found. In this regime the coupling of the whirling amplitude to (small) deformations of the hexagon lattice becomes important. For yet stronger non-Boussinesq effects this coupling breaks up the hexagon lattice and strongly disordered states characterized by whirling and lattice defects are obtained.Comment: Accepted in European Physical Journal Special Topic

Instabilities of Hexagonal Patterns with Broken Chiral Symmetry

Three coupled Ginzburg-Landau equations for hexagonal patterns with broken chiral symmetry are investigated. They are relevant for the dynamics close to onset of rotating non-Boussinesq or surface-tension-driven convection. Steady and oscillatory, long- and short-wave instabilities of the hexagons are found. For the long-wave behavior coupled phase equations are derived. Numerical simulations of the Ginzburg-Landau equations indicate bistability between spatio-temporally chaotic patterns and stable steady hexagons. The chaotic state can, however, not be described properly with the Ginzburg-Landau equations.Comment: 11 pages, 7 figures, submitted to Physica

On buoyant convection in binary solidification

We consider the problem of nonlinear steady buoyant convection in horizontal mushy layers during the solidification of binary alloys. We investigate both cases of zero vertical volume flux and constant pressure, referred to as impermeable and permeable conditions, respectively, at the upper mush???liquid interface. We analyze the effects of several parameters of the problem on the stationary modes of convection in the form of either hexagonal cells or non-hexagonal cells, such as rolls, rectangles and squares. [More ...]published or submitted for publicationis not peer reviewe