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The cylindrical magnetic Rayleigh-Taylor instability for viscous fluids

Journal Article · · Physics of Plasmas
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4759453· OSTI ID:22068803
;  [1]
  1. School of Mathematics and Physics, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 37-Hobart, Tasmania 7005 (Australia)
This paper considers a cylindrical Rayleigh-Taylor instability, in which a heavy fluid surrounds a light fluid, and gravity is directed radially inwards. A massive object is located at the centre of the light fluid, and it behaves like a line dipole both for fluid flow and magnetic field strength. The initially circular interface between the two conducting fluids evolves into plumes, dependent on the magnetic and fluid dipole strengths and the nature of the initial disturbance to the interface. A spectral method is presented to solve the time-dependent interface shapes, and results are presented and discussed. Bipolar solutions are possible, and these are of particular relevance to astrophysics. The solutions obtained resemble structures of some HII regions and nebulae.
OSTI ID:
22068803
Journal Information:
Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 10 Vol. 19; ISSN PHPAEN; ISSN 1070-664X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English