Parametrically driven surface waves on viscous ferrofluids

Standing waves on the surface of a ferrofluid in a normal magnetic field can be excited by a vertical vibration of the container. A stability theory for the onset of these parametrically driven waves is developed, taking viscous dissipation and finite depth effects into account. It will be shown that a careful choice of the filling level permits the normal and anomalous dispersion branches to be measured. Furthermore it will be demonstrated that the parametric driving mechanism may lead to a delay of the Rosensweig instability. A bicritical situation can be achieved when Rosensweig and Faraday waves interact.