Magneto-Rayleigh-Taylor instability driven by a rotating magnetic field

TL;DR

This paper provides theoretical analysis of the Magneto-Rayleigh-Taylor instability under rotating magnetic fields, showing that such fields can suppress instabilities in various configurations, with potential applications in fusion technology.

Contribution

It offers new theoretical insights into how rotating magnetic fields influence the Magneto-Rayleigh-Taylor instability in different geometries, including potential fusion applications.

Findings

Instabilities are alleviated for all modes with rotating magnetic fields.

Both slab and liner configurations are analyzed using WKB and non-WKB approximations.

Potential application to Theta-Z Liner Inertia Fusion is discussed.

Abstract

We give theoretical analyses of the Magneto-Rayleigh-Taylor instability driven by a rotating magnetic field. Both slab and liner configurations with finite thicknesses are dealt with in the WKB and the non-WKB approximations. Results show that instabilities for all modes (combinations of wave vectors) are alleviated. We further discuss the potential application of the alternant/nested configurations of a theta and a Z pinch to the Theta-Z Liner Inertia Fusion (Theta-Z-LIF) concept.