An Introduction to Magnetohydrodynamics
Magnetic fields influence many natural and man-made flows. They are routinely used in industry to heat, pump, stir and levitate liquid metals. There is the terrestrial magnetic field which is maintained by fluid motion in the earth's core, the solar magnetic field, which generates sunspots and solar flares, and the galactic field which influences the formation of stars. This is an introductory text on magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) - the study of the interaction of magnetic fields and conducting fluids. This book is intended to serve as an introductory text for advanced undergraduates and postgraduate students in physics, applied mathematics and engineering. The material in the text is heavily weighted towards incompressible flows and to terrestrial (as distinct from astrophysical) applications. The final sections of the text also contain an outline of the latest advances in the metallurgical applications of MHD and so are relevant to professional researchers in applied mathematics, engineering and metallurgy.
- A general introduction to MHD which includes applications in both engineering and physics
- A simple introduction which requires no advanced mathematics
- The book brings together many of the recent advances in the applications of MHD to metallurgy
Reviews & endorsements
"The author cares greatly about the student. The language of this book is simple, vivid, yet fully scientific. It is a real pleasure to read. ...worth recommending, not only to students, but also to everyone who is interested in MHD, particularly to theoreticians who, as a rule, know almost nothing about metallurgical applications of MHD." Applied Mechanics Review
"A significant addition to the literature." SIAM Review
"put the material in historical perspective and also offer temporary light relief from some of the inevitable mathematical complexity...provides a particularly appealing introduction to MHD theory for those already well-versed in theroretical fluid mechanics." AIAA Journal
"In a pleasing, colloquial style that is appropriately rigorous, as called for by the material, the author presents a remarkably comprehensive treatment of the basics...Davidson presents excellent scaling arguments to justify his equation and to give the reader deeper insight into the subject" Physics Today 2002
"The book is unique in bringing together a number of diverse MHD topics...the book makes for rewarding reading, and I recommend it to all students of MHD, no matter what their persuasion." American Journal of Physics
Product details
February 2011Adobe eBook Reader
9780511826092
0 pages
0kg
188 b/w illus. 4 tables
This ISBN is for an eBook version which is distributed on our behalf by a third party.
Table of Contents
- Preface
- Part A. The Fundamentals of MHD
- Introduction: the aims of part A
- 1. A qualitative overview of MHD
- 2. The governing equations of electrodynamics
- 3. The governing equations of fluid mechanics: Part I. Fluid flow in the absence of Lorentz forces
- Part II. Incorporating the Lorentz force
- 4. Kinematics of MHD: advection and diffusion of a magnetic field
- 5. Dynamics at low magnetic Reynolds numbers: Part I. Suppression of motion
- Part II. Generation of motion
- Part III. Boundary layers
- 6. Dynamics at moderate to high magnetic Reynolds number
- 7. MHD turbulence at low and high magnetic Reynolds number
- Part B. Applications in Engineering and Metallurgy:
- 8. Magnetic stirring using rotating fields
- 9. Magnetic damping using static fields
- 10. Axisymmetric flows driven by the injection of current
- 11. MHD instabilities in reduction cells
- 12. High-frequency fields: magnetic levitation and induction heating
- Appendices
- Bibliography
- Index.