EFFECT OF VARYING MAGNETIC FIELD ON THE LINEAR STABILITY OF PARALLEL STRATIFIED SHEAR FLOWS

Abstract

This paper deals with the stability of an inviscid incompressible stratified shear flow confined between two infinite plates in the presence of a variable horizontal magnetic field. The flow is characterized by an arbitrary basic velocity profile and a varying magnetic field is assumed to be aligned in the horizontal direction. Analytical expressions to calculate the growth rate of the disturbances are found by employing the method of small oscillations. The analysis is restricted to long waves. Numerical computations of stability characteristics are carried out for linear velocity and magnetic profiles