Transition from traveling-wave to stationary convection in fluid mixtures

Abstract

The transition from traveling-wave to stationary convection in a binary-fluid mixture is studied as a function of Rayleigh number. The experiments are conducted in an annular container, which provides periodic boundary conditions in the direction of the wave motion. In agreement with the predictions of recent theories, the transition is shown to be continuous with no measurable hysteresis. The functional dependence of the wave phase velocity on Rayleigh number is in agreement with the predictions over the entire traveling-wave branch.