Algorithm and exploratory study of the Hall MHD Rayleigh-Taylor instability.

Technical Report · Wed Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 2010

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/1008118· OSTI ID:1008118

Gardiner, Thomas Anthony

This report is concerned with the influence of the Hall term on the nonlinear evolution of the Rayleigh-Taylor (RT) instability. This begins with a review of the magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) equations including the Hall term and the wave modes which are present in the system on time scales short enough that the plasma can be approximated as being stationary. In this limit one obtains what are known as the electron MHD (EMHD) equations which support two characteristic wave modes known as the whistler and Hall drift modes. Each of these modes is considered in some detail in order to draw attention to their key features. This analysis also serves to provide a background for testing the numerical algorithms used in this work. The numerical methods are briefly described and the EMHD solver is then tested for the evolution of whistler and Hall drift modes. These methods are then applied to study the nonlinear evolution of the MHD RT instability with and without the Hall term for two different configurations. The influence of the Hall term on the mixing and bubble growth rate are analyzed.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Laboratories
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-94AL85000
• OSTI ID: 1008118
• Report Number(s): SAND2010-6747
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
ALGORITHMS
BUBBLE GROWTH
ELECTRONS
INSTABILITY
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
PLASMA
RAYLEIGH-TAYLOR INSTABILITY
TESTING
WHISTLERS