Surface Tension Driven Instabillity in a Horizontal Layer of Binary Liquid Mixture in the Presence of the Soret Effect

Abstract

The problem of the onset of surface tension driven instability in a horizontal layer of binary liquid mixture subjected to a vertical temperature gradient is examined using linear stability theory. The solute is assumed to be a non-surfactant and the Soret effect is taken into account. Assuming that the neutral state is a stationary one, the conditions under which instability sets in are determined in detail and it is found that the presence of the solute can play a prominent role through the Soret effect.