Local transition to turbulence in electrohydrodynamic convection

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
On the route to turbulence in electrohydrodynamic convection of nematic liquid crystals, the last bifurcation is spatially inhomogeneous via nucleation. Such a transition occurs between two different turbulent states (DSM1 and DSM2). We find good agreement between the nucleation rate of DSM2 nuclei and an expression from conventional nucleation theory. The motion of the DSM1-DSM2 interface behaves similar to propagating fronts in other nonequilibrium systems. Disclinations in the director field are created during the transition, similar to the vortex filaments in the TI-TII transition in superfluid He II.