Identification of a non-axisymmetric mode in laboratory experiments searching for standard magnetorotational instability

Wang, Yin; Gilson, Erik P.; Ebrahimi, Fatima; Goodman, Jeremy; Caspary, Kyle J.; Winarto, Himawan W.; Ji, Hantao

doi:10.1038/s41467-022-32278-0

Title: Identification of a non-axisymmetric mode in laboratory experiments searching for standard magnetorotational instability

Journal Article · Tue Aug 09 00:00:00 EDT 2022 · Nature Communications

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-32278-0· OSTI ID:1880388

;

; Ebrahimi, Fatima;

; Caspary, Kyle J.; Winarto, Himawan W.;

Abstract The standard magnetorotational instability (SMRI) is a promising mechanism for turbulence and rapid accretion in astrophysical disks. It is a magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) instability that destabilizes otherwise hydrodynamically stable disk flow. Due to its microscopic nature at astronomical distances and stringent requirements in laboratory experiments, SMRI has remained unconfirmed since its proposal, despite its astrophysical importance. Here we report a nonaxisymmetric MHD instability in a modified Taylor-Couette experiment. To search for SMRI, a uniform magnetic field is imposed along the rotation axis of a swirling liquid-metal flow. The instability initially grows exponentially, becoming prominent only for sufficient flow shear and moderate magnetic field. These conditions for instability are qualitatively consistent with SMRI, but at magnetic Reynolds numbers below the predictions of linear analyses with periodic axial boundaries. Three-dimensional numerical simulations, however, reproduce the observed instability, indicating that it grows linearly from the primary axisymmetric flow modified by the applied magnetic field.

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Research Organization:: Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL), Princeton, NJ (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE; National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA); National Science Foundation (NSF); Max-Planck-Princeton Center for Plasma Physics (MPPC)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC02-09CH11466; NNH15AB25I; AST-2108871

OSTI ID:: 1880388

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1887982

Journal Information:: Nature Communications, Journal Name: Nature Communications Vol. 13 Journal Issue: 1; ISSN 2041-1723

Publisher:: Nature Publishing GroupCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United Kingdom

Language:: English

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