Spatio-Temporal Intermittency in Quasi One-Dimensional Rayleigh-Bénard Convection

Abstract

We present experimental results on Rayleigh-Bénard convection in a quasi one-dimensional annular geometry. The transition to turbulence via spatio-temporal intermittency is qualitatively described and statistically analysed. The results are reminiscent of phase transition phenomena and are in good agreement with both theoretical work and previous experiments achieved in different geometries.