Electrohydrodynamic and Magnetohydrodynamic Surface Waves and Instabilities

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

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1706223· OSTI ID:4815592

Melcher, James R.

Low-frequency dynamics of a plane fluid interface stressed by tangential or perpendicular electric or magnetic fields is studied emphasizing the duality of the magnetic and electric cases. Both configurations are shown to be controlled by an effective Alfven velocity for the magnetic cases, and by an electrohydrodynamic dual to this velocity for the electric cases. A wavelength and threshold for instability are predicted for a surface stressed by a perpendicular field, and correlated with expenrimental results. This makes possible a critical experiment to determine the nature of interfacial electrostriction in dielectrics. A dielectric interface stressed by a tangential electric field supports incompressible electrohydrodynamic transverse waves that propagate along the lines of electric field intensity at a velocity strongly influenced by interfacial electrostriction. Experimental results indicate the existence of such waves. (auth)

• Research Organization: Massachusetts Inst. of Tech., Cambridge
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• NSA Number: NSA-16-003777
• OSTI ID: 4815592
• Journal Information: Physics of Fluids (New York), Journal Name: Physics of Fluids (New York) Journal Issue: 11 Vol. 4; ISSN 0031-9171; ISSN PFLDAS
• Publisher: American Institute of Physics
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

CONFIGURATION
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
GAS FLOW
GASES
MATHEMATICS
OPERATORS
PHYSICS
PRESSURE