Electronic edition ISSN 1574-0579

Vorticity generation in localized magnetic fields

S. Cuevas¹ , S. Smolentsev² , M. Abdou²

¹ Center for Energy Research, National University of Mexico A.P. 34, Temixco, Mor. 62580, Mexico
² Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department, University of California Los Angeles, 44-114 Eng. IV, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1795 USA

Abstract
The generation of vorticity in localized magnetic fields is explored under the low magnetic Reynolds number approximation. Analytic solutions for a creeping flow past a magnetic point dipole are obtained through a perturbation method. Also, numerical calculations for the flow past a finite size magnetic dipole are presented. It is shown that vortical structures may become unstable when inertial effects are not negligible. Figs 5, Refs 10.