Bifurcation and chaos in zero-Prandtl-number convection

P. Pal, P. Wahi, S. Paul, M. K. Verma, K. Kumar, P. K. Mishra
2009 Europhysics letters  
We present the detailed bifurcation structure and associated flow patterns near the onset of zero Prandtl number Rayleigh B\'enard convection. We employ both direct numerical simulation and a low-dimensional model ensuring qualitative agreement between the two. Various flow patterns originate from a stationary square observed at a higher Rayleigh number through a series of bifurcations starting from a pitchfork followed by a Hopf and finally a homoclinic bifurcation as the Rayleigh number is
more » ... uced to the critical value. Global chaos, intermittency, and crises are observed near the onset.
doi:10.1209/0295-5075/87/54003 fatcat:63477z3kwvgxhbu5e53lqipbhe