The effect of a uniform vertical magnetic field on the linear growth ratesof steady Marangoni convection in a horizontal layer of conducting fluid

In this paper we investigate the effect of a uniform vertical magnetic fiel d on the linear growth land decay) rates of steady Manngoni convection in a horizontal layer of electrically-conducting fluid heated from below. Expli cit analytical expressions for the linear growth rates of both long- and sh ort-wave instability modes are derived for the first time. Numerically-calc ulated results for the linear growth rates are also presented. In particula r, we show that the effect of increasing the magnetic field strength is alw ays to stabilise the layer by decreasing the growth rates of the unstable m odes. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.