Polygonal micro-whirlpools induced in ferrofluids

We report on the observation of the polygonal whirlpools in the thin layer of ferrofluid under illumination with a laser beam carrying optical vortex and in the presence of a vertical magnetic field. This kind of structures have attracted attention after discovering a hexagonal storm in Saturns atmosphere. Our polygonal whirlpools were created in a closed system (no free surfaces) in micro scale (whirlpool diameter less than 20 micrometers) by the use of holographic optical tweezers. The polygonal shape was changed by varying the magnetic field strength or value of the optical vortex topological charge.