Convective Instabilities in Layered Systems

Abstract

We discuss intrinsic multi-layer convection phenomena which cannot be explained in the framework of the one-layer approach. The physical mechanisms of instabilities are described, and appropriate mathematical models are presented. A special attention is payed to the problem of self-consistency of the mathematical model based on the Boussinesq approximation, which takes into account the deformations of the interface. We consider numerous types of oscillatory Marangoni instabilities, instabilities under a combined action of buoyancy and thermocapillary effect, and anticonvection. Both two-layer systems and three-layer systems are studied.