Convection in a Two-Layer System with a Deformable Interface Under Low Gravity Conditions

The onset of thermal convection in a system of two horizontal layers of immiscible liquids of similar densities is studied under low gravity conditions. A constant heat flux is prescribed at both rigid boundaries. A generalized Boussinesq approach that allows correct accounting for the interface deformation is used. The long-wave perturbations emerge under low-gravity conditions; either monotonic or oscillatory modes are critical depending on the problem. Moreover, two different modes of the monotonic instability exist. For the first instability mode, the convection dominates, whereas the interface remains nearly undeformable. The second monotonic instability mode is substantially related to interface deformations. The system of non-linear amplitude equations describing the behavior of long-wave regimes at finite-amplitude interface deflection and finite supercriticalities is obtained. The analytical and numerical investigations of these equations show that the stable non-trivial stationary solutions are absent, and after a transient at least one of the layers is split into the areas not connected to each other. The nonlinear regimes of cellular convection are studied numerically by the Level Set method.