Instability of stagnation points in magnetohydrodynamic equilibria

Journal Article · Sun Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1996 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.871595· OSTI ID:286947

Nunez, M ^[1]

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1. Departamento de Analisis Matematico, Universidad de Valladolid, 47005 Valladolid (Spain)

Instabilities associated with streamlines connecting stagnation points in an equilibrium with plane incompressible flow are studied. It is shown that they belong to two different types: If the velocity of fluid absorption at the endpoint is greater than the velocity of fluid emission at the initial point, only a discrete spectrum of unstable standing waves is possible; otherwise, Alfv{acute e}nic waves accumulate to form a continuum of unstable frequencies. These are present no matter how small the equilibrium field or the mode number of the magnetic oscillations. {copyright} {ital 1996 American Institute of Physics.}

• OSTI ID: 286947
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 9 Vol. 3; ISSN PHPAEN; ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
ALFVEN WAVES
INCOMPRESSIBLE FLOW
INSTABILITY
MHD EQUILIBRIUM
STAGNATION POINT
STANDING WAVES
STREAMLINES