Liquid metal tornado

A concentrated vortex with properties similar to a tornado may be created by magnetic body forces. We study this phenomenon experimentally by applying combined travelling and rotating magnetic fields to a liquid metal cylinder. The bulk velocity is measured by ultrasound Doppler velocimetry and the surface velocity is reconstructed by particle image velocimetry. The travelling magnetic field (TMF) creates an axial body force with a parabolic radial profile. The induced meridional flow follows the field at the rim and returns through the central part. Thus an intense converging flow is created at one end of the cylinder. The additionally superimposed rotating magnetic field (RMF) with a substantially different frequency sets the flow into rotation. The angular momentum conservation forces the rotation to intensify towards the centre of the converging flow. The swirl intensification is limited by the centrifugal force which stops the radial inflow at some equilibrium radius. The resulting concentrated vortex is unstable but persistent. We determine conditions of its formation in terms of the ratio of the two magnetic body forces. It turns out that the maximum strength of the vortex is determined by the TMF but its structure is governed by a much weaker RMF. The maximum time-averaged swirl is observed at a force ratio of about 100. A pronounced two-cell vortex with a reversed meridional circulation in the inner core is observed at a force ratio of about 50. The inner core is encircled then by a number of smaller vortices resembling a large wedge-shaped tornado or eye of a tropical cyclone. As the force ratio is further increased the inner core expands until it occupies the entire cylinder. The flow is then essentially controlled by the RMF despite the TMF might be still much stronger. The phenomenon may be useful to stir floating particles into the melt. A related sink-vortex may occur over a drain-hole in various technological processes. Magnetic body forces can be used to alter or eliminate it.