Modulational instability of a magneto-hydrodynamic jet (Q1060912)

The effect of a magnetic field on the nonlinear capillary instability of a fluid jet is examined using the method of multiple scales. It is a well-known result that a sufficiently strong magnetic field can, in the limit of zero viscosity and resistivity, completely suppress the linear capillary instability. It turns out that while the nonlinear (modulational) instability cannot be completely suppressed, the presence of a magnetic field does greatly increase the range of stable wave numbers.