Abstract An experiment that seeks to investigate buoyancy driven mixing of miscible fluids by microwave volumetric energy deposition is presented. The experiment involves the use of a light, non-polar fluid that initially rests on top of a heavier fluid which is more polar. Microwaves preferentially heat the polar fluid, and its density decreases due to thermal expansion. As the microwave heating continues, the density of the lower fluid eventually becomes less than that of the upper, and buoyancy driven Rayleigh-Taylor mixing ensues. The choice of fluids is crucial to the success of the experiment, and a description is given of numerous fluid combinations considered and characterized. After careful consideration, the miscible pair of toluene / tetrahydrofuran (THF) was determined as having the best potential for successful volumetric energy deposition buoyancy driven mixing. Various single fluid calibration experiments were performed to facilitate the development of a heating theory. Thereafter, results from two-fluid mixing experiments are presented that demonstrate the capability of this novel Rayleigh-Taylor driven experiment. Particular interest is paid to the onset of buoyancy driven mixing and unusual aspects of the experiment in the context of typical Rayleigh-Taylor driven mixing.

中文翻译：

---

通过微波的体积能量沉积实现混相流体的浮力驱动混合

摘要 提出了一项旨在通过微波体积能量沉积研究可混溶流体的浮力驱动混合的实验。该实验涉及使用一种轻质的非极性流体，该流体最初位于一种更重的极性流体之上。微波优先加热极性流体，其密度会因热膨胀而降低。随着微波加热的继续，下部流体的密度最终变得小于上部流体的密度，浮力驱动的瑞利-泰勒混合随之发生。流体的选择对于实验的成功至关重要，并且描述了考虑和表征的多种流体组合。经过慎重考虑，甲苯/四氢呋喃 (THF) 的可混溶对被确定为具有成功体积能量沉积浮力驱动混合的最佳潜力。进行了各种单一流体校准实验以促进加热理论的发展。此后，展示了两种流体混合实验的结果，证明了这种新型瑞利-泰勒驱动实验的能力。在典型的瑞利-泰勒驱动混合的背景下，特别关注浮力驱动混合的开始和实验的不寻常方面。展示了两种流体混合实验的结果，证明了这种新型瑞利-泰勒驱动实验的能力。在典型的瑞利-泰勒驱动混合的背景下，特别关注浮力驱动混合的开始和实验的不寻常方面。展示了两种流体混合实验的结果，证明了这种新型瑞利-泰勒驱动实验的能力。在典型的瑞利-泰勒驱动混合的背景下，特别关注浮力驱动混合的开始和实验的不寻常方面。