Hexagons become second if symmetry is broken
Pattern Formation and Solitons
2009-11-11 v1
Abstract
Pattern formation on the free surface of a magnetic fluid subjected to a magnetic field is investigated experimentally. By tilting the magnetic field the symmetry can be broken in a controllable manner. When increasing the amplitude of the tilted field, the flat surface gives way to liquid ridges. A further increase results in a hysteretic transition to a pattern of stretched hexagons. The instabilities are detected by means of a linear array of magnetic hall sensors and compared with theoretical predictions.
Keywords
Cite
@article{arxiv.nlin/0504008,
title = {Hexagons become second if symmetry is broken},
author = {Bert Reimann and Reinhard Richter and Holger Knieling and Rene Friedrichs and Ingo Rehberg},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:nlin/0504008},
year = {2009}
}
Comments
accepted for publication by Physical Review E/Rapid Communication