Dynamic of thermo-MHD flows via a new approach (Q524833)

Summary: Via a new approach, the dynamic of thermo-MHD flows in horizontal layers heated from below, in the Boussinesq scheme, is investigated. Denoting by \(m_0\), \(E\), \(P_r\), \(P_m\) and \(\bar{R}_C\) the thermal conduction solution, the \(L^2\)-energy of the nonlinear perturbations to \(m_0\), the Prandtl number, the magnetic Prandtl number and the steady convection onset critical value of the Rayleigh number \(R^2\), first of all we obtain, for any initial data, the ultimately boundedness of \(E\), via the existence of \(L^2-\)absorbing sets. Successively we introduce a new approach for the E-longtime behaviour associated to the \(R^2-\)increasing. This new approach is based on an \(L^2\)-energy \textit{linearization principle} and on a new way of analyzing and using the linear stability. As concerns the linearization principle, denoting by \(\mathcal E\) the \(L^2\)-energy of the linear perturbations to \(m_0\), it is shown that: ``\(\left(\frac{d\mathcal E}{dt}\right)_{(t=0)}<0\) for any initial data, implies \(\frac{dE}{dt}<0\), \(\forall t \in \mathbb R^+\)''. In order to obtain \(\left(\frac{d\mathcal E}{dt}\right)_{(t=0)}<0\) for any initial data, denoting by \(\operatorname{L}_n\) the linear operator governing the \(n\)th-Fourier component of perturbations, we introduce the characteristic values \(\operatorname{I}_{jn},\,(j=1,2,3)\) of \(\operatorname L_n\) via the \(\operatorname L_n-\)entries and obtain the equation \(\lambda^3-\operatorname I_{1n}\lambda^2+\operatorname I_{2n}\lambda-\operatorname I_{3n}=0\), governing the \(\operatorname L_n-\)eigenvalues. To this equation we apply the Hurwitz's Criterion guaranteeing that all the eigenvalues have negative real part. As matter of fact, the Hurwitz's Criterion, applied for each \(n\in\mathbb N\), allows to obtain conditions necessary and sufficient for being \(\left(\frac{d\mathcal E}{dt}\right)_{(t=0)}<0\) for any initial data. Following this new approach, we show that the unconditional nonlinear asymptotic stability of \(m_0\), with respect to the \(L^2-\)energy norm, is guaranteed by the linear stability and obtain -- among other things -- two conditions, in a very simple closed forms, guaranteeing the onset of oscillatory convection (\textit{overstability laws}). All the results, first obtained for the free-free boundary case, are successively generalized to the rigid-rigid, rigid-free and free-rigid boundary cases.