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Planform selection in salt fingers

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 April 2006

Michael R. E. Proctor  and
Judith Y. Holyer
Michael R. E. Proctor
Affiliation:
Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, University of Cambridge, Silver Street, Cambridge CB3 9EW
Judith Y. Holyer
Affiliation:
School of Mathematics, University of Bristol, Bristol B58 1TW
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Abstract

The problem of small-aspect-ratio thermohaline convection is discussed in conditions appropriate to the salt-finger regime. Two-scale methods are employed to produce nonlinear coupled evolution equations for an arbitrary number of interacting roll solutions. These are solved in simple cases and it is shown that roll-type planforms are preferred over square cells throughout the range of validity of the analysis. The methods can be generalized to other double-diffusive convection problems.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Fluid Mechanics , Volume 168 , July 1986 , pp. 241 - 253
Copyright
© 1986 Cambridge University Press

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