The onset of convection in a rotating layer of viscous fluid with an imposed magnetic field: dependence on the Prandtl numbers

TL;DR

This paper investigates how the onset of convection in a rotating, magnetized viscous fluid layer depends on Prandtl numbers, focusing on critical parameters and instability types relevant to Earth's core conditions.

Contribution

It provides a detailed analysis of the influence of Prandtl numbers on convection onset and instability modes in a rotating, magnetized fluid layer, extending understanding of geophysical fluid dynamics.

Findings

Critical Rayleigh number varies with Prandtl numbers.

Type of instability depends on Prandtl and Taylor numbers.

K"uppers-Lortz instability occurs at high Taylor numbers.

Abstract

We consider the onset of Boussinesq convection in a horizontal layer of electrically conducting incompressible fluid with rigid electrically insulating horizontal boundaries. The fluid is heated from below and rotates about a vertical axis; vertical magnetic field is imposed. The instability of the trivial steady state (fluid at rest) can be monotonic or oscillatory depending on parameters of the problem (the kinematic and magnetic Prandtl, Taylor and Chandrasekhar numbers). If the Taylor number is sufficiently large, convective rolls, emerging in the monotonic instability, experience the K\"uppers-Lortz instability. We study how the critical Rayleigh number, the type of instability of the trivial steady state and the critical Taylor number for the K\"uppers-Lortz instability depend on the Prandtl numbers. We consider Prandtl numbers not exceeding one, which is typical for the inner core of the Earth.