Faraday Instability

Forcing

Fluid / Damping

Status

Time0
Amplitude
Unstable?
Mathieu eq: ẍ + [δ + ε cos(t)]x = 0
Instability when: δ ≈ n²/4 for integer n
Faraday wavelength: λ_F ≈ 2λ/2 = λ_d
Pattern selection: hexagons (low forcing), stripes (high forcing)
Surface Height Field
Mathieu Stability Diagram
Top View — Pattern
Mode Amplitude vs Time