On magnetohydrodynamic flows generated by an electric current discharge

Abstract

Magnetohydrodynamic flows generated in a semi-infinite viscous incompressible conducting fluid by the discharge of an electric current J₀ from a point on the infinite plane bounding the fluid develop singularities when J₀ exceeds a certain critical value. In practical applications sometimes currents much in excess of the critical value of J₀ may be passed between electrodes before singularities appear in the velocity field. In this paper we consider the flow field associated with some current distributions and attempt to provide an explanation for the discrepancy between theory and experiment.