Square versus Roll Pattern at Convective Threshold

P. Le Gal; A. Pocheau; V. Croquette

doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.54.2501

Square versus Roll Pattern at Convective Threshold

P. Le Gal, A. Pocheau, and V. Croquette

Phys. Rev. Lett. 54, 2501 – Published 10 June 1985

Abstract

We present observations and measurements of convection between two moderately conducting plates. A staionary square pattern is observed just at the convective threshold. But at high Rayleigh number the preferred convective pattern becomes the usual roll structure. The transition from squares to rolls involves an unexpected Hopf bifurcation.