We show through polarized light scattering experiments the spatially inhomogeneous orientational dynamics for shear-thinning wormlike micellar gels (cetyltrimethylammonium $\text{tosylate}+\text{sodium}$ $\text{chloride}+{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}$) en route to rheochaos. For shear rates in the plateau of the flow curve, we see alternating bright and dark birefringent stripes stacked along the vorticity. The orientational order in adjacent bands is predominantly oriented at $+45°$ and $-45°$ to the flow $\left(\mathbf{v}\right)$ in the $(\mathbf{v},\mathbf{\nabla }\mathbf{v})$ plane, respectively. We have made an attempt to correlate the observed orientational ordering in terms of the two-dimensional Taylor-like velocity rolls in a gradient banding fluid. The bands show spatial motion along the vorticity, and the orientation dynamics of the interface delineating adjacent bands completely correlates with the temporal dynamics of the stress. Furthermore, the observed spatial dynamics of the interfaces of the rolls depends crucially on the gap width of the Couette cell.

• Received 14 June 2007

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.78.021504