Mean Flows and the Onset of Chaos in Large-Cell Convection

Abstract

Numerical simulations of two-dimensional model equations show that a coupling between amplitude and vertical-vorticity fields allows chaotic flows near the onset of Rayleigh-B\'enard convection in large-aspect-ratio domains. In cylindrical cells, mean flows arising from this coupling lead to a chaotic nucleation of dislocations that is remarkably similar to recent observations in convection experiments.