Stability of the Sharp Pinch and Unpinch with Finite Conductivity

Journal Article · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1961 · Physics of Fluids (New York)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1706311· OSTI ID:4810875

Jukes, J. D.

The stability of the sharp linear pinch and unpinch is analyzed, using a model in which the magnetic fields are separated by a thin current layer of large but finite electrical conductivity. Elsewhere the contained fluid is assumed to have zero conductivity, a model which may, for example, approximate a plasma pinch heated by the intermixing of skew magnetic fields. The perturbed radial displacement of the layer is assumed to be constant across the layer, and small wavelength perturbations comparable to the layer thickness are not considered. Viscosity is also neglected. The infinitely conducting, stabilized'' pinch and the unpinch are shown to be overstable to perturbations whose helices are approximately orthogonal to the helix of the mean magnetic field across the layer. The overstable growth rate is typically one tenth of the geometric mean of a fundamental oscillatory frequency and the ohmic diffusion rate of the layer.

• Research Organization: Atomic Energy Research Establishment, Harwell, Berks, Eng.
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• NSA Number: NSA-16-008271
• OSTI ID: 4810875
• Journal Information: Physics of Fluids (New York), Journal Name: Physics of Fluids (New York) Journal Issue: 12 Vol. 4; ISSN 0031-9171; ISSN PFLDAS
• Publisher: American Institute of Physics
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
CONFIGURATION
CURRENTS
DIFFUSION
DISTURBANCES
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
FLUIDS
FREQUENCY
LAYERS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
OSCILLATIONS
PINCH
PLASMA
STABILITY
VISCOSITY