Oscillatory instability in a weakly non-Boussinesq fluid layer with a deformable surface

Abstract

We investigate the oscillatory convective instability in a liquid layer with a deformable free surface. We provide linear stability analysis within a non-Boussinesq approach as our aim is to examine the influence of deformability of the free surface on the Rayleigh–Bénard–Marangoni instability. Within this approach, fluid is assumed to be isothermally incompressible; the density variations are accounted for in the continuity equation and in the buoyancy and inertial terms of the momentum equations. The numerical results show significant differences in stability behavior as compared to results obtained using the Boussinesq approach. Moreover, a novel oscillatory mode of instability is revealed for the zero Marangoni number and zero gravity. This result could not be obtained within the framework of the conventional Boussinesq approximation. Thorough investigation of the novel oscillatory mode let us propose the mechanism of this mode. It is connected with the capillary wave that enforced with thermal expansion of fluid. Weakly nonlinear analysis shows that supercritical branching of standing rolls is possible.