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Spatial symmetry breaking in rapidly rotating convective spherical shells
Author(s) -
Zhang Keke,
Schubert Gerald
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/95gl01009
Subject(s) - spherical shell , convection , physics , rotation (mathematics) , circular symmetry , spherical geometry , symmetry breaking , homogeneous space , symmetry (geometry) , shell (structure) , classical mechanics , rotational symmetry , geometry , spherical model , mechanics , condensed matter physics , quantum mechanics , materials science , mathematics , composite material
Many problems in geophysical and astrophysical convection systems are characterized by fast rotation and spherical shell geometry. The combined effects of Coriolis forces and spherical shell geometry produce a unique spatial symmetry for the convection pattern in a rapidly rotating spherical shell. In this paper, we first discuss the general spatial symmetries for rotating spherical shell convection. A special model, a spherical shell heated from below, is then used to illustrate how and when the spatial symmetries are broken. Symmetry breaking occurs via a sequence of spatial transitions from the primary conducting state to the complex multiple‐layered columnar structure. It is argued that, because of the dominant effects of rotation, the sequence of spatial transitions identified from this particular model is likely to be generally valid. Applications of the spatial symmetry breaking to planetary convection problems are also discussed.