Hexagons become the secondary pattern if symmetry is broken.
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.
Reimann
Bert
B
Physikalisches Institut, Experimentalphysik V, Universität Bayreuth, D-95440 Bayreuth, Germany.
Richter
Reinhard
R
Knieling
Holger
H
Friedrichs
Rene
R
Rehberg
Ingo
I