VELOCITY SHEAR EFFECT ON RAYLEIGH-TAYLOR VORTICES IN NONUNIFORM MAGNETIZED PLASMAS

In this paper, the effect of velocity shear on Rayleigh-Taylor vortice s has been demonstrated. An inhomogeneous plasma is considered with a density profile such that the diamagnetic drift velocity V-n=(cT(e)/eB )dn(0)/dx is a constant and includes the effect of an ambient poloidal shear flow V-eq(x)=V-perpendicular to 0'(x-x(0))(y) over cap. The fin al equation describing the stationary Rayleigh-Taylor vortex is shown to have the structure of a nonlinear Poisson equation, where the nonli nearity arises essentially because of the,velocity shear term. This eq uation has been solved numerically and it has been shown that qualitat ively new two-dimensional monopole vortex solutions may be obtained in the appropriate parameter space. Therefore, a new important nonlinear effect related to equilibrium shear flow has been identified in the c alculations of Rayleigh-Taylor vortices which results in monopole-like solutions in plasmas. (C) 1996 American Institut of Physics.