THE INITIAL-VALUE PROBLEM FOR THE KELVIN-HELMHOLTZ INSTABILITIES OF HIGH-VELOCITY AND MAGNETIZED SHEAR LAYERS

The general initial-value problem for the Linear Kelvin-Helmholtz inst ability of arbitrarily compressible velocity shear layers is considere d for both the unmagnetized and magnetized cases. The time evolution o f the physical quantities characterizing the layer is treated using La place transform techniques. Singularity analysis of the resulting equa tions using Fuchs-Frobenius theory yields the large-time asymptotic so lutions. The instability is found to remain, within the linear theory, of the translationally convective or shear type. No onset of rotation al or vortex motion, i.e., formation of ''coherent structures'' occurs .