Instability of buoyant-thermocapillary flows in non-cylindrical liquid bridges.

The flow driven by buoyancy and thermocapillarity in a liquid bridge between coaxial differentially heated disks held by surface tension forces is investigated. We numerically determine the stability of axisymmetric flows by a linear stability analysis. In the present approach, the influence of buoyancy forces on the flow stability is taken into account through static meniscus deformations as well as through internal buoyancy. To elucidate the physical instability mechanisms the energy balance given by Reynolds-Orr-like equations is considered term by term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]