Defects in roll-hexagon competition

Abstract

The defects of a system where hexagons and rolls are both stable solutions are considered. On the basis of topological arguments we show that the unstable phase is present in the core of the defects. This means that a roll is present in the penta-hepta defect of hexagons and that a hexagon is found in the core of a grain boundary connecting rolls with different orientations. These results are verified in an experiment of thermal convection under non-Boussinesq conditions.