Structural regularity in the electrochemically driven Rayleigh-Benard convection and its control under magnetic field

Rayleigh-Benard (RB) convection was observed in an electrolytic solution be tween two parallel copper wire electrodes. Electrochemically driven RB conv ection was achieved when the anode, where the electrodissolution of copper occurred, was placed above the cathode on which the reduction of ions took place. The motion of the solution was well controlled by the bias potential applied between the electrodes and the dissipation structure made by the h ow of the fluid was visualized by using a laser interferometry. Under magne tic field normal to the plane of the convection the roll cells were found t o travel horizontally along the wire electrode by the Lorentz force. It ls shown that the electrochemically driven RE convection is controlled and mon itored much simply than thermally induced conventional ones by adjusting el ectrochemical parameters and that the system has a wide variety in the stru ctural regularity especially under magnetic field.