Hexagons become the secondary pattern if symmetry is broken

Title data

Reimann, Bert ; Richter, Reinhard ; Knieling, Holger ; Friedrichs, Rene ; Rehberg, Ingo:
Hexagons become the secondary pattern if symmetry is broken.
In: Physical Review E. Vol. 71 (2005) Issue 5 . - 055202(R).
ISSN 1550-2376
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.71.055202

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Abstract in another language

Pattern formation on the free surface of a magnetic fluid subjected to a magnetic field is investigated experimentally. By tilting the magnetic field, the symmetry can be broken in a controllable manner. When increasing the amplitude of the tilted field, the flat surface gives way to liquid ridges. A further increase results in a hysteretic transition to a pattern of stretched hexagons. The instabilities are detected by means of a linear array of magnetic Hall sensors and compared with theoretical predictions.