The Tearing Instability of Resistive Magnetohydrodynamics

摘要

In this chapter we explore the linear onset of one of the most important instabilities of resistive magnetohydrodynamics, the tearing instability. In particular, we focus on two important aspects of the onset of tearing: asymptotic (modal) stability and transient (non-modal) stability. We discuss the theory required to understand these two aspects of stability, both of which have undergone significant development in recent years.