Rayleigh--Taylor instabilities of an accelerating thin plasma slab

Journal Article · Tue Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1981 · Phys. Fluids; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.863578· OSTI ID:5983523

Tsai, W; Liskow, D; Wilcox, T

Rayleigh--Taylor instabilities of an accelerating plasma sheet are studied by application of normal mode analysis to the one-fluid magnetohydrodynamic equations. The equilibrium unperturbed states are determined by specifying the resistivity law of the current carrying plasma, although resistivity effects are neglected in the developing instabilities. The dispersion curves for the current filamentation and interchange type instabilities are given.

• Research Organization: R and D Associates, Marina del Rey, California 90291
• OSTI ID: 5983523
• Journal Information: Phys. Fluids; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Fluids; (United States) Vol. 24:9; ISSN PFLDA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700107* -- Fusion Energy-- Plasma Research-- Instabilities
ACCELERATION
DISPERSION RELATIONS
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
EQUATIONS
EQUILIBRIUM
FLUID MECHANICS
HYDRODYNAMICS
INSTABILITY
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
MAGNETOSPHERE
MECHANICS
NORMAL-MODE ANALYSIS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PLASMA ACCELERATION
PLASMA SHEET
RAYLEIGH-TAYLOR INSTABILITY