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Pattern selection and restricted vortex dynamics by spatial periodic forcing in rapidly rotating Rayleigh-Bénard convection

Pattern forming with externally imposed symmetry is ubiquitous in nature but lightly studied.We present experimental studies of pattern formation and selection by spatial periodic forcing in rapidly rotating convection. We observe symmetric convection patterns in form of regular vortex lattice near the instability onset, when the periodicity of the external forcing is set close to the intrinsic vortex spacing. We show that the new patterns arise as a dynamical process of imperfect bifurcation which can be well described by a Ginzburg-Landau-like model. With increasing buoyancy strength the effect of external forcing weakens, and the convective vortices evolve from a stationary state to exhibit restricted and finally stochastic motions.