The evolution of a strongly magnetized electron system is identical to that
of an ideal two-dimensional (2-D) fluid; an electron column is equivalent
to a fluid vortex. We have studied the stability of 2-D vortex patterns wit
h electron columns confined in a Malmberg-Penning trap. The following cases
are presented: the stability of N vortices arranged in a ring; the stabili
ty of N vortices arranged in a ring with a central vortex; the stability of
more complicated vortex patterns. (C) 2000 American Institute of Physics.
[S1070-6631(00)00902-8].