Simulation of a bubble chain in a container of high aspect ratio exposed to a magnetic field

The influence of a homogeneous magnetic field acting in the direction of gravity on a bubble chain is studied with phase-resolving numerical simulations. The bubbles rise in a narrow container filled with liquid metal. Individual bubbles are represented by an immersed boundary method with the bubble shape being described by spherical harmonics and deformed by the surrounding liquid metal. A Gaussian bubble size distribution is realized as suggested by corresponding experiments. Bubble-bubble and bubble-wall interactions are modelled based on a repelling potential. With a magnetic field, the averaged trajectory of the bubble chain becomes more rectilinear, and the transverse dispersion is reduced. The average rise velocity decreases under the impact of the field.