Observation of axisymmetric solitary waves
on the surface of a ferrofluid
E. Bourdin, J.-C. Bacri and E.
Falcon
MSC, Université
Paris Diderot - Paris 7, CNRS, 75 013 Paris, France
Reference: Physical Review Letters 104, 094502
(2010)
Abstract:
We report the first observation of axisymmetric
solitary waves on the surface of a cylindrical magnetic fluid layer
surrounding a current-carrying metallic tube. According to the ratio
between the magnetic and capillary forces, both elevation and
depression solitary waves are observed with profiles in good agreement
with theoretical predictions based on the magnetic analogue of the
Korteweg-deVries equation. We also report the first measurements of the
velocity and the dispersion relation of axisymmetric linear waves
propagating on the cylindrical ferrofluid layer that are found in good
agreement with theoretical predictions.
Keywords: Solitary wave -
soliton - ferrofluid - axisymmetric waves - KdV soliton - Korteweg-de
Vries - experiment - magnetic waves - depression - elevation -
dispersion relation - magnetic fluid
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