{
  "abstract": "Convective instabilities are studied from a Lagrangian perspective in order to gain new insights into how the resulting global, long-lived coherent flow structures organize themselves. We consider a 2D annular fluid layer uniformly heated from the inside and subject to radial gravity and propose several new Lagrangian diagnostics for characterizing its convective instabilities. In particular, we perform a comprehensive Lagrangian analysis of the flow field across a wide range of dimensionless parameters, establishing a heuristic correspondence between convective plumes and curves of local maxima of Finite-Time Lyapunov Exponent (FTLE) fields. Moreover, we characterize coherent swirling motions inside convective rolls, which are associated to the non-zero curvature of the flow. By introducing a sliding window method for our finite-time kinematic measures, we demonstrate a direct relationship with radial heat flux quantified by means of the Nusselt number and identify relevant dynamical transitions that leave a trace on both. Finally, we propose a formal criterion for determining viscous boundary layer (UBL) thickness by virtue of radial FTLE profiles and validated against a classical Eulerian method.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": "2610.08024",
  "author_total": 3,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "Luis Álamo"
    },
    {
      "name": "Jezabel Curbelo"
    },
    {
      "name": "Kathrin Padberg-Gehle"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/cvktmfzkwmexz.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.48550/arxiv.2610.08024",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "cvktmfzkwmexz",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2610.08024",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "LicenseRef-arXiv-nonexclusive-1.0",
  "licence_label": "arXiv licence",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "http://arxiv.org/licenses/nonexclusive-distrib/1.0/",
  "metadata_licence": "CC0-1.0",
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "arxiv",
      "physics.flu-dyn"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2206|Fluid Dynamics and Turbulent Flows"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7220973936",
  "pdf_url": "https://arxiv.org/pdf/2610.08024",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-06",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/cvktmfzkwmexz.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:27:22Z",
      "native_id": "2610.08024",
      "source": "arxiv",
      "url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2610.08024"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "physics",
      "origin": "arxiv:physics.flu-dyn",
      "subfield": "fluid-dynamics"
    }
  ],
  "title": "A Lagrangian analysis of coherent structures in 2D annular Rayleigh-Bénard convection",
  "title_text": "A Lagrangian analysis of coherent structures in 2D annular Rayleigh-Bénard convection",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:27:22Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/cvktmfzkwmexz",
  "venue": "arXiv",
  "versions": []
}