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Unstable yet static initial state: A universal method for studying Rayleigh-Taylor instability and lock exchange
Phys. Rev. Fluids 4, 013901 – Published 24 January, 2019
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevFluids.4.013901
Abstract
Macroscopic flow induced by instability is a feature found in both natural phenomena and industrial processes; however, in situ observation of instabilities at an early stage in their formation is rare. In this article, we propose an experimental method for observing the early stages of a Rayleigh-Taylor instability and lock exchange. We successfully used physical gels to form a “static” initial state which is simultaneously “gravitationally” unstable. Fluid instabilities can be observed from the beginning by switching from a static state to a dynamic state by irradiating the system with light. We can also observe flow dynamics under arbitrary boundary conditions using this method. Here we present notable results in the early stages of a Rayleigh-Taylor instability and lock exchange. Our method promises to greatly advance experimental research into many types of instability phenomena, contributing to the elucidation of nonequilibrium phenomena in fluids.
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