Potential Flows with Electromagnetically-Induced Circulation in a Hele-Shaw Cell

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates how electromagnetic effects can induce circulation in Hele-Shaw cell flows, expanding the understanding of potential flows with non-zero circulation through experiments and theoretical analysis.

Contribution

It introduces a novel method to generate circulatory potential flows in Hele-Shaw cells using electromagnetic configurations, supported by experiments and theoretical insights.

Findings

Electromagnetic effects can induce circulation in Hele-Shaw flows.

Experimental validation of circulatory potential flows.

Analogy established between circulatory flows and electrostatic systems.

Abstract

In Hele-Shaw cells, pressure-driven viscous fluid motion between two closely-spaced plates gives rise to a two-dimensional potential flow with zero circulation. Here, we show how the introduction of electromagnetic effects enables the realization of potential flows with circulation. We present canonical Hele-Shaw experiments with circulation prescribed by the electromagnetic configuration, and rationalize the observed flows theoretically. We also draw an analogy between this new class of circulatory potential flows and a class of electrostatic systems.