Observation of the Rayleigh-Bénard convection cells in strongly coupled Yukawa liquids

Abstract

Using “first principles” molecular dynamics simulation, we report for the first time the formation of Rayleigh-Bénard convection cells (RBCC) in two-dimensional strongly coupled Yukawa liquids, characterized by coupling strength Γ (ratio of average potential energy to kinetic energy per particle) and screening parameter κ (ratio of average inter-particle distance to Debye length). For typical values of (Γ, κ), existence of a critical external temperature difference is demonstrated, beyond which RBCC are seen to set in. Beyond this critical external temperature difference, the strength of the maximum convective flow velocity is shown to exhibit a new, hitherto unsuspected linear relationship with external temperature difference and with a slope independent of (Γ, κ). The time taken for the transients to settle down (τs) to a steady state RBCC is found to be maximum close to the above said critical external temperature difference and is seen to reduce with increasing external temperature difference. For the range of values of (Γ, κ) considered here, τs ≈ 10 000–20 000 ωpd−1, where ωpd is dust plasma frequency. As Γ is increased to very high values, due to strong coupling effects, cells are seen to be in a transient state without attaining a steady state for as long as 100 000 ωpd−1, even for a very high external temperature difference. Role of system size, aspect ratio, and dust-neutral collisions has also been addressed.