This research is concerned with pattern formation of Rayleigh-Benard convection in a cylindrical geometry. Numerical simulation together with analytic bifurcation theory will be used to investigate and to understand pattern formation. This will be used in collaboration with experimental studies to confirm or refute conjectures regarding the structure or stability of convective flows. As new areas of inquiry open up, new and improved numerical methods will be pursued. Visualization techniques will also be developed for interrogating and for interpreting the computed results.
