Potential flow model for the hydromagnetic Rayleigh--Taylor instability in cylindrical plasmas

Journal Article · Wed Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1987 · J. Appl. Phys.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.339112· OSTI ID:6506730

Hwang, C S; Roderick, N F

A potential flow model has been developed to study the linear behavior of the hydromagnetic equivalent of the Rayleigh--Taylor instability in imploding cylindrical plasmas. Ordinary differential equations are obtained for both (r,z) and (r,theta) disturbances. The model allows the study of the dynamic effects of the moving plasma on the development of the instability. The perturbation equations separate into a geometric part associated with the motion of the interface and a nongeometric part associated with the stability of the interface. In both planes the geometric part shows growth of perturbations for imploding plasmas. The surface is also unstable in both planes for plasmas being imploded by magnetic fields. Analytic solutions are obtained for constant acceleration. These show that the short wavelength perturbations that are most damaging in the (r,z) plane are not affected by the motion of the interface. In the (r,theta) plane the growth of longer wavelength disturbances is affected by the interface motion.

• Research Organization: Department of Chemical and Nuclear Engineering, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131
• OSTI ID: 6506730
• Journal Information: J. Appl. Phys.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Appl. Phys.; (United States) Vol. 62:1; ISSN JAPIA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700107* -- Fusion Energy-- Plasma Research-- Instabilities
ANALYTICAL SOLUTION
CONFIGURATION
CYLINDRICAL CONFIGURATION
DYNAMICS
FLUID FLOW
FLUID MECHANICS
HYDRODYNAMICS
IMPLOSIONS
INSTABILITY
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MECHANICS
PERTURBATION THEORY
PINCH EFFECT
PLASMA
POTENTIAL FLOW
RAYLEIGH-TAYLOR INSTABILITY