Hydromagnetic Kelvin-Helmholtz Instability in Shear Layers of Non-Zero Thickness

摘要

The hydromagnetic Kelvin-Helmholtz instability is investigated for velocity shear layers of non-zero thickness. Two cases are studied in the low frequency hydromagnetic regime. The first case considers an infinite weakly nonhomogeneous two fluid plasma in the finite beta limit with the shear flow parallel to the equilibrium magnetic field. The second case considers a velocity shear region of finite thickness. Criteria for instability are found for both cases. The effect of the compressibility of the fluid on the instability is also discussed. (Author)