HYDROMAGNETIC-STABILITY OF DISSIPATIVE COUETTE-FLOW - WIDE-GAP PROBLEM

A numerical solution to the eigenvalue problem of MHD stability of Cou ette flow between concentric rotating cylinders with nonconducting wal ls, is presented here. The numerical values of the critical Taylor num ber, Ta(c), and the critical wave number, a(c) are listed in a table f or different values of eta (ratio of the two radii), mu (ratio of the angular velocities of the two cylinders) and Q, the magnetic field par ameter. It is observed that, owing to an increase in the gap-width, Ta (c) decreases or the flow becomes destabilized. a(c) increases with in creasing Q and mu < 0, but decreases when mu > 0 and by increasing the width between two cylinders.