dorsal/arxiv
View SchemaCharge Transport Scalings in Turbulent Electroconvection
| Authors | Peichun Tsai, Zahir A. Daya, Stephen W. Morris |
|---|---|
| Categories | |
| ArXiv ID | physics/0501005 |
| URL | https://arxiv.org/abs/physics/0501005 |
| DOI | 10.1103/PhysRevE.72.046311 |
Abstract
We describe a local-power law scaling theory for the mean dimensionless electric current $Nu$ in turbulent electroconvection. The experimental system consists of a weakly conducting, submicron thick liquid crystal film supported in the annulus between concentric circular electrodes. It is driven into electroconvection by an applied voltage between its inner and outer edges. At sufficiently large voltage differences, the flow is unsteady and electric charge is turbulently transported between the electrodes. Our theoretical development, which closely parallels the Grossmann-Lohse model for turbulent thermal convection, predicts the local-power law $Nu \sim F(\Gamma) {\cal R}^{\gamma} {\cal P}^{\delta}$. ${\cal R}$ and ${\cal P}$ are dimensionless numbers that are similar to the Rayleigh and Prandtl numbers of thermal convection, respectively. The dimensionless function $F(\Gamma)$, which is specified by the model, describes the dependence of $Nu$ on the aspect ratio $\Gamma$. We find that measurements of $Nu$ are consistent with the theoretical model.
{
"annotation_id": "2d98dc00-05b5-436b-83b9-17e0906a5db2",
"date_created": "2026-03-02T18:00:57.058000Z",
"date_modified": "2026-03-02T18:00:57.058000Z",
"file_hash": "6605b034b57943c1192419dcd9e42390870d2d423c80521933db0bc1e8fb58f2",
"private": false,
"record": {
"abstract": "We describe a local-power law scaling theory for the mean dimensionless\nelectric current $Nu$ in turbulent electroconvection. The experimental system\nconsists of a weakly conducting, submicron thick liquid crystal film supported\nin the annulus between concentric circular electrodes. It is driven into\nelectroconvection by an applied voltage between its inner and outer edges. At\nsufficiently large voltage differences, the flow is unsteady and electric\ncharge is turbulently transported between the electrodes. Our theoretical\ndevelopment, which closely parallels the Grossmann-Lohse model for turbulent\nthermal convection, predicts the local-power law $Nu \\sim F(\\Gamma) {\\cal\nR}^{\\gamma} {\\cal P}^{\\delta}$. ${\\cal R}$ and ${\\cal P}$ are dimensionless\nnumbers that are similar to the Rayleigh and Prandtl numbers of thermal\nconvection, respectively. The dimensionless function $F(\\Gamma)$, which is\nspecified by the model, describes the dependence of $Nu$ on the aspect ratio\n$\\Gamma$. We find that measurements of $Nu$ are consistent with the theoretical\nmodel.",
"arxiv_id": "physics/0501005",
"authors": [
"Peichun Tsai",
"Zahir A. Daya",
"Stephen W. Morris"
],
"categories": [
"physics.flu-dyn",
"cond-mat.stat-mech"
],
"doi": "10.1103/PhysRevE.72.046311",
"title": "Charge Transport Scalings in Turbulent Electroconvection",
"url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/physics/0501005"
},
"schema_id": "dorsal/arxiv",
"source": {
"execution_id": "aa5878f3-c967-4d82-a6e8-1562f5cdd9c7",
"id": "arXiv Dataset IDs",
"type": "Model",
"variant": "snapshot-2026-03-01",
"version": "0.1.0"
},
"user_id": 1000002
}