Abstract
We present experimental results on Rayleigh-Bénard convection in near the gas-liquid critical point. We measured the critical temperature difference for the onset of convection, Δ, as a function of the reduced average temperature τ=(T¯-)/ and found Δ=525×, which is close to the expected power law behavior. The strong temperature dependence of the physical properties is used to scan the Prandtl number in a wide range. A new, many ‘‘target’’ pattern state, initiated by a defect instability, was observed.
- Received 12 March 1993
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.70.3888
©1993 American Physical Society