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  • Open Access

Persistent clock of turbulent thermal convection

Lázaro Martínez-Ortíz, Youri H. Lemm, Herman J. H. Clercx, and Rudie P. J. Kunnen*

  • Fluids and Flows Group, Department of Applied Physics and Science Education and J. M. Burgers Center for Fluid Dynamics, Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands

  • *Contact author: r.p.j.kunnen@tue.nl
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Phys. Rev. Research 8, 013302 – Published 19 March, 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/tvt2-5523

Abstract

The large-scale circulation (LSC) of turbulent convection is a prominent feature of its dynamics and forms the basis for descriptive theories. We show, using experimental and numerical results from thermal convection in a cylindrical cell, that the LSC possesses a persistent internal “clock”: its pulsating velocity as a function of time is described by a constant value of the parameter U/(lf), where U is the mean velocity, f is the pulsation frequency, and l is the characteristic length scale. By introducing a narrow sidewall barrier, we can trip the LSC, forming a pair of interconnected rolls stacked above and below the barrier. They independently exhibit the same value for the ratio U/(lf), even for vertically asymmetric pairs, indicating signs of synchrony. Thus, this parameter establishes a direct connection between plume-shedding dynamics and the flow topology.

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Phys. Rev. Research 8, 013302– Published 19 March, 2026
  • Received 12 December 2025
  • Accepted 17 February 2026
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