SURFACE-TENSION-DRIVEN BENARD CONVECTION
Until recently, large discrepancies existed between theory and
experiment regarding the onset of convection. In our studies, where
surface tension is approximately four times more dominant than in
previous experiments, we observe a hysteretic (subcritical) transition
that is in quantitative accord with theory.
The picture above illustrates the abrupt nature of onset for slowly
increasing
control parameter, which differs by less than 1 part in 10^^3 between
the two
images. For more information, send Mike Schatz email at michael.schatz
[at] physics.gatech.edu or request a reprint below.
links:
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convection reprints for CNLD