Theoretical Magnetofluiddynamics

Book excerpt: Theoretical Magnetofluiddynamics provides an overview of the state of knowledge in magnetofluiddynamics and its applications. Magnetofluiddynamics is concerned with the study of the interaction between magnetic fields and fluid conductors of electricity. This discipline serves to unite classical fluid mechanics with electromagnetism of media in motion; therefore, it is equally of interest to students of electrodynamics and to those of aerodynamics. The former always think of speeds which are of the order of the speed of light while the latter confine their attention to speeds which are of the order of the speed of sound. This book contains six chapters and begins by establishing equations of magnetofluiddynamics in detail, both for motion with shock waves and for continuous motion. Subsequent chapters deal with weak discontinuities or discontinuities in the derivatives of the characteristic flow quantities; strong discontinuities or discontinuities in the characteristic flow quantities; and one-dimensional motion, motion in ducts, and structure of shock waves; and motion past obstacles.