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Title: Nonlinear stabilization of the Rayleigh--Taylor instability by external velocity shear

Journal Article · · Physics of Fluids B; (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.860245· OSTI ID:5070256
 [1]
  1. Laboratory for Plasma Research, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742-3511 (United States)

It is shown that the Rayleigh--Taylor instability of magnetized plasma is nonlinearly stabilized by the external imposition of transverse velocity shear with zero spatial second derivative. The critical velocity shear required for stabilization is of order {gamma}{sub {ital g}}(ln Ra){sup 1/2}, where {gamma}{sub {ital g}} is the linear growth rate and Ra is the Rayleigh number.

OSTI ID:
5070256
Journal Information:
Physics of Fluids B; (United States), Vol. 4:3; ISSN 0899-8221
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English