Linear stability analysis of thermohaline and magneto-convection in a viscoelastic fluid layer

Abstract

This study investigates the intricate phenomenon of double-diffusive magneto-convection in viscoelastic fluids, emphasizing its practical implications in industrial and natural systems. The research explores the complex interaction between thermal and solutal buoyancy forces in the presence of a magnetic field within non-Newtonian media, where the unique viscoelastic properties introduce significant challenges to convection dynamics. The inclusion of a magnetic field further modifies heat and mass transfer through Lorentz forces, impacting system stability and transport mechanisms. Using linear stability analysis, the study reveals three key insights: i) an electrically conducting viscoelastic fluid layer, initially stable under a magnetic field, can become unstable when a solute is introduced at the bottom, which is relevant to controlled material deposition and mixing processes in polymer engineering; ii) a stable double-diffusive viscoelastic fluid layer can be destabilized by a magnetic field, with implications for optimizing electromagnetic control in industrial cooling and chemical processing; and iii) the system requires three distinct thermal Rayleigh numbers to determine instability due to the presence of oscillatory neutral stability curves, which is crucial for predicting convection-driven instabilities in advanced manufacturing and geophysical applications. These findings enhance the understanding of magneto-convective behavior in viscoelastic fluids and provide valuable insights for applications in polymer processing, metallurgical casting, controlled drug delivery, geothermal energy extraction, and astrophysical fluid dynamics, where precise control of heat and mass transport is essential.