https://doi.org/10.1007/s100510070065
Statics and dynamics of a single ferrofluid-peak
FNW/ITP, "Otto-von-Guericke-Universität", Postfach 4120, 39016 Magdeburg, Germany
Received:
14
December
1999
Revised:
31
May
2000
Published online: 15 November 2000
We consider a single peak of a ferrofluid resulting from the Rosensweig instability for a small fluid container. Minimizing the total energy of the system by a variational method we determine the shape of the peak in a static field as well as the characteristics of the subcritical bifurcation leading to its formation. The latter are in very good agreement with experiment. Generalizing the approach to dynamic situations we qualitatively reproduce the complicated subharmonic response of the peak to an oscillating part in the external magnetic field found in recent experiments.
PACS: 47.20.Ky – Nonlinearity (including bifurcation theory) / 47.20.Ma – Interfacial instability / 75.50.Mm – Magnetic liquids
© EDP Sciences, Società Italiana di Fisica, Springer-Verlag, 2000
