Linear stability and convection in a gravity modulated porous layer heated from below: Transition from synchronous to subharmonic solutions

The linear stability theory is used to investigate analytically the effects of gravity modulation on convection in a homogenous porous layer heated from below. The linear stability results are presented for both the synchronous and subharmonic solutions and the exact point for the transition from synchronous to subharmonic solutions is computed. It is also demonstrated that increasing the excitation frequency rapidly stabilizes the convection up to the transition point from synchronous to subharmonic convection. Beyond the transition point, the effect of increasing the frequency is to slowly destabilize the convection.