Abstract
An experimental study of the parametric instability of a liquid-vapor interface close to the critical point is presented. A cell containing carbon dioxide at the critical density is vertically vibrated sinusoidally; the acceleration amplitude and the instabiilty wavelength at the instabiilty onset are measured with respect to the excitation frequency and the critical temperature difference -T. These measurements provide a simple way to determine the surface tension and the density difference between the two phases. When -T diminishes decreases and reaches a finite value whereas diverges. The shape of the wave pattern appears to depend on -T.
- Received 10 February 1992
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.68.3160
©1992 American Physical Society