SHEARED FLOW STABILIZATION OF THE M=1 KINK MODE IN Z-PINCHES

The effect of a sheared axial flow on the m = 1 kink instability in Z pinches is studied numerically by reducing the linearized magnetohydro dynamic equations to a one-dimensional displacement equation. An equil ibrium is used that is made marginally stable against the m = 0 sausag e mode by tailoring its pressure profile. The principal result reveals that a sheared axial flow stabilizes the kink mode when the shear exc eeds a threshold that is dependent on the location of the conducting w all. For the equilibria studied here the maximum threshold shear (v(z) (1)/kV(A)(0)) was about 0.1.