Maximal growth rate at the Rosensweig instability: theory, experiment, and numerics


Abstract

We investigate the growth of a pattern of liquid crests emerging in a layer of magnetic liquid when subjected to a magnetic field oriented normally to the fluid surface. After a step like increase of the magnetic field, the temporal evolution of the pattern amplitude is measured by means of a Hall-sensor array. The extracted growth rate is compared with predictions from linear stability analysis by taking into account the nonlinear magnetization curve M(H). The remaining discrepancy can be resolved by numerical calculations via the finite element method. By starting with a finite surface perturbation it can reproduce the temporal evolution of the pattern amplitude and the growth rate.


Download:

maxgrowthrosensweig.pdf (PDF format, 218 kB)


List of publications