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Published on: May 8, 2015
Hexagons become the secondary pattern if symmetry is broken
Bert Reimann1, Reinhard Richter, Holger Knieling
1Physikalisches Institut, Experimentalphysik V, Universität Bayreuth, D-95440 Bayreuth, Germany.
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.
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