Magnetic field effect on the stability of flow induced by a rotating magnetic field

K. Mazuruk - M. P. Volz - D. C. Gillies

Space Sciences Laboratory, NASA Marshall Space Center, Huntsville, AL 35812, USA

Abstract
A linear stability analysis has been performed for the flow induced by a rotating magnetic field in a cylindrical column filled with electrically conducting fluid. The first transition is time-independent and results in the generation of Taylor vortices. The critical value of the magnetic Taylor number has been examined as a function of the strength of the transverse rotating magnetic field, the strength of an axial static magnetic field, and thermal buoyancy. Increasing the transverse field increases the critical magnetic Taylor number and decreases the aspect ratio of the Taylor vortices at the onset of instability. An increase in the axial magnetic field also increases the critical magnetic Taylor number but increases the aspect ratio of the Taylor vortices. Thermal buoyancy is found to have only a negligible effect on the onset of instabil-ity. Figs 7, Refs 21.