Strongly nonlinear convection in binary fluids: minimal model using symmetry decomposed modes

Spatially extended stationary and traveling states in the strongly nonlinear regime of convection in layers of binary fluid mixtures heated from below are described by a few-mode-model. It is derived from the proper hydrodynamic balance equations including experimentally relevant boundary conditions with a non-standard Galerkin approximation that uses numerically obtained, symmetry decomposed modes. Properties of the model are elucidated and compared with full numerical solutions of the field equations.