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Self-Induced Cyclic Reorganization of Free Bodies through Thermal Convection

Bin Liu (刘斌) and Jun Zhang (张骏)
Phys. Rev. Lett. 100, 244501 – Published 16 June 2008
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Abstract

We investigate the dynamics of a thermally convecting fluid as it interacts with freely moving solid objects. This is a previously unexplored paradigm of interactions between many free bodies mediated by thermal convection, which gives rise to surprising robust oscillations between different large-scale circulations. Once begun, this process repeats cyclically, with the collection of objects (solid spheres) entrained and packed from one side of the convection cell to the other. The cyclic frequency is highest when the spheres occupy about half of the cell bottom and their size coincides with the thickness of the thermal boundary layer. Our work shows that a deformable mass stimulates a thermally convecting fluid into oscillation, a collective behavior that may be found in nature.

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  • Received 30 October 2006

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.100.244501

©2008 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Bin Liu (刘斌) and Jun Zhang (张骏)*

  • Center for Soft Matter Research, Department of Physics, New York University, 4 Washington Place, New York, New York 10003, USA
  • Applied Mathematics Laboratory, Courant Institute, New York University, 251 Mercer Street, New York, New York 10012, USA

  • *jun@cims.nyu.edu

See Also

Desktop Continental Drift

Mike Wofsey
Phys. Rev. Focus 21, 20 (2008)

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Vol. 100, Iss. 24 — 20 June 2008

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