Free magnetohydrodynamic shear layers in the presence of rotation and magnetic field

Journal Article · Tue May 15 00:00:00 EDT 2012 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3702006· OSTI ID:22072424

Spence, E J; Roach, A H; Edlund, E M; Sloboda, P; Ji, H ^[1]

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1. Center for Magnetic Self-Organization in Laboratory and Astrophysical Plasmas and Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, Princeton, New Jersey 08543 (United States)

We present an experimental and numerical study of hydrodynamic and magnetohydrodynamic free shear layers and their stability. We first examine the experimental measurement of globally unstable hydrodynamic shear layers in the presence of rotation and their range of instability. These are compared to numerical simulations, which are used to explain the modification of the shear layer, and thus the critical Rossby number for stability. Magnetic fields are then applied to these scenarios and globally unstable magnetohydrodynamic shear layers generated. These too are compared to numerical simulations showing behavior consistent with the hydrodynamic case and previously reported measurements.

• OSTI ID: 22072424
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 19, Issue 5; Other Information: (c) 2012 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
LAYERS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
NUMERICAL ANALYSIS
PLASMA INSTABILITY
ROTATION
SHEAR