Patterns in small aspect ratio Benard-Marangoni convection

An experimental study of pattern formation in Benard-Marangoni convection w ith small aspect ratio containers and high Prandtl number fluids is present ed. The observed stationary patterns complete previous experimental works p erformed at different values of aspect ratio and supercriticality. Detailed experimental studies of the flow in some sin,ale structures are described, and spatial bifurcations between different stationary planforms for a fixe d aspect ratio are shown. These experimental results agree qualitatively wi th linear theory analysis and with some previous numerical works about boun dary conditions effects. [S1063-651X(99)18910-4].