THE LARGE-SCALE VORTEX STRUCTURES IN PLASMA-LIKE MEDIA AND THE ELECTRIC EXPLOSION OF CONDUCTORS

Formation of large-scale hydrodynamic convective patterns in plasma-li ke current-carrying media is considered. This process is shown to be d escribed by the same equations, as Benard rolls, except that a tempera ture field must be replaced by a magnetic field. A simple low-mode mod el of spatial pattern formation for a case of cylindrical liquid-metal conductor with current is proposed and investigated. Nonlinear intera ction of perturbations of the magnetic field and the velocity field re sults in an increase of effective conductor resistance even when trans port coefficients are constant. In our opinion, it is this instability , that is of first importance at the initial stages of the electric ex plosion of conductors. In particular, it leads to conductor stratifica tion and electric current interruption. (C) 1996 American Institute of Physics.