THE RAYLEIGH-TAYLOR MODE WITH SHEARED PLASMA FLOWS

The Rayleigh-Taylor mode is re-examined by including the equilibrium p arallel sheared plasma flows. A two-fluid model is employed to derive a set of nonlinear equations consisting of the electron continuity and the parallel component of the electron momentum equations, as well as the ion vorticity equation. In the linear limit, we obtain and analyz e the local non-local dispersion relations. The interplay between the interchange and parallel velocity shear instabilities is examined. Fur thermore, it is shown that the newly derived nonlinear equations admit various types of vortices as possible stationary solutions. The relev ance of our investigation to laboratory plasmas is pointed out.