Wavy rolls in the Taylor–Bénard problem

Abstract

The Taylor–Bénard problem is realized in the narrow gap limit of fluid flow between differentially rotating coaxial cylinders which are kept at different temperatures. When the outer cylinder is heated and the centrifugal force by far exceeds gravity, buoyancy gives rise to the same axisymmetric vortices that are also realized in the isothermal Taylor–Couette system. The mathematical identity of the axisymmetric motions provides the basis for the analysis of nonaxisymmetric motions in the form of wavy vortices. It is shown that wavy convection rolls in a Rayleigh–Bénard layer and wavy Taylor vortices are special cases of the wavy rolls found as secondary bifurcation in the Taylor–Bénard problem.