Flow Structures in Bubble Migration under the Combined Action of Buoyancy and Thermocapillarity

When a bubble moves subject to the combined action of buoyancy and a vertical temperature gradient, the flow in the surrounding fluid reveals complex topology whether in the laboratory frame of reference or a reference frame traveling with the bubble. Two cases are considered, the first corresponding to neglecting convective transport altogether, and the second when convective transport of energy is permitted in the model. Results are illustrated via streamlines in meridian section. The results demonstrate that fresh intuition must be developed regarding this class of problems.