THE STABILITY OF INFINITE PRANDTL NUMBER ROTATING CONDUCTION

Energy theory is used to show that infinite Prandtl number rotating Bo ussinesq convection between two infinite plates cannot be sustained at any Rayleigh number R below the point of linear instability R-L(T). I t is known that for large Taylor number T the asymptotic transition cu rve is R-L similar to c(0)T(2/3), where c(0) = (27 pi(4)/4)(1/3) for b oth slippery and sticky boundary conditions. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.