The development of an instrument which responds to the radial component of a Taylor vortex is described. The method is to measure the current passing through the vortex in a fluid of low conductivity, such as carbon tetrachloride. Experiments, performed to check the usefulness of the technique are reported. (Author).
The theory underlying the ion technique described in part IV (AD-613 384) of this series is developed: the equations are written down and solved under certain simplifying assumptions which appear physically reasonable. The results explain observations made in part IV by showing, in particular, that the current changes are linearly proportional to the radial component of the perturbations on the flow. (Author).
The ion technique is applied to a variety of experiments in Couette flow: determination of the critical Taylor number; determination of wavenumber and waveform of the vortices; establishment of the laws that the square of the amplitude and the amplification factor both vary as the difference between the Taylor number and the critical Taylor number; and finally certain studies ofte growth and decay of vortices as the Taylor number is changed. The experimental data are compared with the results of integration of the exact equations for the linear stability problem by means of a high-speed computer. These theoretical values were obtained by P.H. Roberts and are presented in an appendix to this paper. (Author).
Seldom does a physical system, particularly one as apparently simple as the flow of a Newtonian fluid between concentric rotating cylinders, retain the interest of scientists, applied mathematicians and engineers for very long. Yet, as this volume goes to press it has been nearly 70 years since G. I. Taylor's outstanding experimental and theoretical study of the linear stability of this flow was published, and a century since the first experiments were performed on rotating cylinder viscometers. Since then, the study of this system has progressed enormously, but new features of the flow patterns are still being uncovered. Interesting variations on the basic system abound. Connections with open flows are being made. More complex fluids are used in some experiments. The vigor of the research going on in this particular example of nonequilibrium systems was very apparent at the NATO Advanced Research Workshop on "Ordered and Turbulent Patterns in Taylor Couette Flow," held in Columbus, Ohio, USA May 22-24, 1991. A primary goal of this ARW was to bring together those interested in pattern formation in the classic Taylor Couette problem with those looking at variations on the basic system and with those interested in related systems, in order to better define the interesting areas for the future, the open questions, and the features common (and not common) to closed and open systems. This volume contains many of the contributions presented during the workshop.
