A shear-flow instability in a circular geometry

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Abstract
A circular shear zone is created in a thin layer of fluid. The Kelvin-Helmholtz instability induces regular, steady patterns of m vortices. The experimental conditions are such that neither the centrifugal nor the Coriolis forces play a role in the motion. The state of the flow is defined by a Reynolds number, the value of which is controlled by the imposed velocities. The pattern of vortices can be characterized by its wavevector k or by m, the order of its symmetry. As k is quantized, its evolution, due to an increase or a decrease of the controlled stress, leads to transitions between patterns of different m. The transitory states between different symmetries are investigated. The experiments are performed with a soap film which provides a new type of visualization of an air flow.

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