The birth, life and death of convective plumes generated by a green laser in an isothermal fluid

Abstract

The aim is to laboratory simulation of convective plumes in the lower mantle, generated by a hot spot on the Earth's core. In the fluid dynamics video, presented results of experimental modeling of the plume from the hot point generated by the laser. Demonstrated that in a fluid with a high Prandtl number, point heating can generate complex spiral plumes. This experimental result allows us to question the classical notion of a mantle plume, as the column of heat.