FLOW PATTERNS OF AN ARRAY OF ELECTROMAGNETICALLY-DRIVEN CELLULAR VORTICES

A visualization study has been made of the patterns of a quasi-two-dim ensional flow consisting of a linear array of four main cellular vorti ces. The flow is driven electromagnetically by the Lorentz force due t o the interaction between a constant magnetic field arranged with alte rnating polarities and an electrolyzing current through a horizontal t hin layer of an electrolytic aqueous solution. A peculiar flow consist ing of a middle vortex pair reduced in size and two outer grown-up vor tices is found to form when the reduced Lorentz force exceeds about 10 0.