COMPLEX SYSTEMS SEMINAR | Oscillatory Double-Diffusive Convection

Oscillatory double-diffusive convection occurs in fluids whose density depends on two competing components, such as chemical composition and temperature. When the more slowly diffusing component is stably stratified, while the more rapidly diffusing one is unstably stratified, small-scale gravity waves passing through the system are exponentially amplified, and rapidly saturate into a state of weak wave-dominated turbulence. The system then often undergoes secondary large-scale instabilities, which can result in the emergence of thermo-compositional staircases, and much larger-scale gravity waves. I will present recent progress in studying the various aspects of the problem, using both mean-field theory and numerical simulations.