Study of spiral pattern formation in Rayleigh-Benard convection
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We present a numerical study of a generalized two-dimensional Swift-Hohenberg model of spiral pattern formation in Rayleigh-Bénard convection in a non-Boussinesq fluid. We demonstrate for the first time that a model for convective motion is able to predict in considerable dynamical detail the spontaneous formation of a rotating spiral state from an ordered hexagon state. Our results are in good agreement with recent experimental studies of $CO_{2}$ gas. The mean flow and non-Boussinesq effects are shown to be crucial in forming rotating spirals.
9 pages, 6 Figures (Postscript, appended)
9 pages, 6 Figures (Postscript, appended)