ANALYZING A MODULATED ELECTROMAGNETIC m=2 FORCING AND ITS CAPABILITY TO SYNCHRONIZE THE LARGE SCALE CIRCULATION IN A RAYLEIGH-BÉNARD CELL OF ASPECT RATIO Γ=1.

The synchronization of the helicity of an instability with azimuthal wavenumber m=1 by a weak tidal m=2 perturbation might play a key role in explaining the phase-stable Schwabe cycle of the solar dynamo [1]. To elucidate this type of interaction, we study a thermally driven Rayleigh-Bénard convection under a tide-like influence. We focus first on the generation of the m=2 mode flow by electromagnetic forcing and then on its low-frequency modulation. In the last section, we present preliminary results on the interaction of this perturbation with the sloshing/torsional motion of the Large Scale Circulation (LSC) of a Rayleigh-Bénard convection flow. While the main focus of the paper is on the numerical side, some comparisons with experimental results are also made. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]