Multistability and confined traveling-wave patterns in a convecting binary mixture

Abstract

A novel localized structure of traveling waves (TW's) was observed at convection onset in ethanol-water mixtures. It is one of various possible flow patterns of TW's which were observed. We find that for almost-one-dimensional cell geometry unique dynamics of transient behavior (in the form of two counterpropagating TW's) can lead to various stable states.