Fluctuations in a fluid under a stationary heat flux II. Slow part of the correlation matrix

Abstract

The general formulas, derived in a previous paper, are used to calculate the correlation functions of the hydrodynamic variables in the Rayleigh-Bénard system. The behavior of the correlation functions on a time scale slow compared to that of sound propagation is determined, using systematically nonequilibrium hydrodynamic eigenmodes. These (slow) eigenmodes of the linearized Boussinesq equations in the presence of gravity and a temperature gradient are the viscous and the visco-heat modes. They are determined for ideal heat-conducting plates with stick boundary conditions. The visco-heat modes are found to behave qualitatively different from those obtained with slip boundary conditions. Using these eigenmodes, the slow part of the correlation functions can be determined explicitly. On a small length scale, as probed by light scattering, we recover the same expression for the Rayleigh line as quoted in the literature. On larger length scales, as probed by microwaves, the coupling of gravity to the temperature gradient gives rise to a convective instability (heating form below) or to propagating visco-heat modes (heating from above). The corresponding correlation functions and the Rayleigh line are calculated and discussed.