Abstract

Buoyant forcing and rotation are two principal components of many geophysical and astrophysical flows. Perhaps the simplest model representation incorporating these components is rotating Rayleigh-Bénard convection: a fluid layer is confined between two corotating horizontal plates, with the bottom plate at a higher temperature than the top plate. This flow problem has shown rich dynamics with a wide variety of flow structures, among which a range of parameters where large-scale vortex condensates are formed. I will use simulation results to consider the nature of the transitions between states with and without vortex growth, which are sharply delineated in the governing parameter space. The boundary conditions are found to have remarkably strong consequences for the overall behaviour of this system. Finally, I will address some difficulties encountered in attempts to experimentally realise vortex condensate growth in this system (so far unsuccessful).