Numerical Study of the Magnetorotational Instability in Princeton MRI Experiment

Abstract

In preparation for an experimental study of magnetorotational instability (MRI) in liquid metal, we present non-ideal axisymmetric magnetohydrodynamic simulations of the nonlinear evolution of MRI in the experimental geometry. The simulations adopt fully insulating boundary conditions. No-slip conditions are imposed at the cylinders. A clear linear phase is observed with reduced linear growth rate. MRI results in an inflowing "jet" near the midplane and enhances the angular momentum transport at saturation.

22 pages, 12 figures, ApJ 684, 515 (2008). Minor changes according to referee's report

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Cited by in corpus (4)

• Magnetohydrodynamic experiments on cosmic magnetic fields
• Numerical simulations of the Princeton magneto-rotational instability experiment with conducting axial boundaries
• Taylor-Couette flow for astrophysical purposes
• Quasi-two-dimensional nonlinear evolution of helical magnetorotational instability in a magnetized Taylor-Couette flow