The birth, life and death of convective plumes generated by a green laser in an isothermal fluid

TL;DR

This study experimentally models convective plumes generated by laser heating in a high Prandtl number fluid, challenging traditional views of mantle plumes as simple heat columns.

Contribution

It provides new experimental evidence that point heating can produce complex spiral plumes, questioning classical mantle plume models.

Findings

Laser heating creates spiral plumes in high Prandtl number fluids.

Point heating can generate complex, non-columnar convective structures.

Results suggest reevaluation of mantle plume theories.

Abstract

The aim is to laboratory simulation of convective plumes in the lower mantle, generated by a hot spot on the Earth's core. In the fluid dynamics video, presented results of experimental modeling of the plume from the hot point generated by the laser. Demonstrated that in a fluid with a high Prandtl number, point heating can generate complex spiral plumes. This experimental result allows us to question the classical notion of a mantle plume, as the column of heat.