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Magnetic Control Of Convection In Nonconducting Diamagnetic Fluids, J. Huang, D. D. Gray, Boyd F. Edwards

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Inhomogeneous magnetic fields exert a body force on electrically nonconducting, diamagnetic fluids. This force can be used to compensate for gravity and to control convection. The field effect on convection is represented by a dimensionless vector parameter R_m=(μ₀αχ₀d³ΔT/ρ₀νD_T)(H⋅∇H)_r=0^ext, which measures the relative strength of the induced magnetic buoyancy force due to the applied field gradient. The vertical component of this parameter competes with the gravitational buoyancy effect and a critical relationship between this component and the Rayleigh number is identified for the onset of convection. …