Dual Role of Viscosity in the Instability of Revolving Fluids of Variable Density

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Abstract
The stability of a viscous fluid between rotating cylinders and with a radial temperature gradient against the formation of axisymmetric disturbances (Taylor vortices) is considered, and it has been found that viscosity has a dual role. If the circulation increases radially outward (so that the flow would be stable in the absence of density variation) but the density decreases with the radial distance, the situation can arise that viscosity actually has a destabilizing effect. In the opposite circumstance, thermal diffusivity is always destabilizing. Detailed results for small spacing of the cylinders and sufficient conditions for stability of a revolving fluid of variable density or entropy also are given.

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