SPIRAL CORE OSCILLATIONS IN RAYLEIGH-BENARD CONVECTION

(simulation of the Swift-Hohenberg equation coupled with mean flow)

Four-Arm Spiral Terminated by 4 dislocations

Snapshots apprx every 20 units of time:

Here is a movie (170 kB) of simulated spiral dynamics. The core oscillates at a much higher frequency then the overall spiral rotation. Compare this with the experimental movie (260 kB) of core oscillations in Rayleigh-Benard convection by Bodenschatz et al (1996).

Here is another computer movie of 3-arm spiral rotation.

Simultaneous look at the order parameter and vorticity field helps better understand the spiral dynamics