A MODEL OF THE STRATIFICATION OF A LIQUID CURRENT-CARRYING CONDUCTOR

The initial stages of the stratification of a current-carrying metal c onductor are considered in the framework of the magnetohydrodynamic eq uations. We find that if an electric current in the conductor exceeds its threshold value, then it is necessary to take into consideration a n additional characteristic longitudinal size corresponding to the lar ge-scale hydrodynamic and current fluctuations with the maximum increm ent. This size is shown to agree well with the stratum size observed i n experiments.