4H MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS 3.

THE NAVIER-STOKES EQUATION

The Lorentz Force
The dominant electromagnetic force in the Navier-Stokes equation is the Lorentz force j B. From (1.10) and (1.6) 1 j = ( B) , (3.1) 0 so the Lorentz force can be written as 1 ( B) B . 0 Using the standard vector identity (a b) = (a (3.2) can be rewritten as 1 1 ( B) B = (B 0 0 )B B2 20 , (3.3) )b + (b )a + a ( b) + b ( a) (3.2)

where B = |B|. The second term on the right-hand side can be combined with the pressure gradient term, so the Navier-Stokes equation (1.22a) becomes u + (u t )u = p+ B2 20 +
2

u +

1 (B )B + other forces. (3.4) 0

Thus, the Lorentz force can be considered as being comprised of two components. The rst, (B 2 /20 ), can be thought of as due to a gradient of magnetic pressure (B 2 /20 ). There is a net pressure gradient force when the total pressure P = p+ B2 , 20 (3.5)

is a function of position. The uid experiences a force directed from regions of high P to regions of low P . The interpretation of the second component 1 (B )B is a little more tricky. Let us 0 write B = B where is the unit vector in the direction of B. Then s s (B )B = (B )(B) s s d s = B (B) ds dB d s + B2 =B s ds ds 1

4H MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS - The Navier-Stokes Equation

where s is the coordinate measured along B. Now || = 1 so s d d s ( ) = 2 s s s . ds ds Hence d/ds is perpendicular to , which means we can write s s d s 1 = n, ds Rc where n is perpendicular to and Rc is a constant (known as the radius of curvas ture). 0 =

B2 1 d B2 1 + (B )B = s n. (3.6) ds 20 0 Rc We interpret this as a magnetic tension. The eld lines act as if they are elastic wires with a tension of B 2 /0 per unit cross-sectional area. There is a net tension force when the eld lines are curved.

We can then write

Note
We know from the form of the Lorentz force that it is perpendicular to B. In general, both the magnetic pressure and tension forces have components parallel to B. These are equal in magnitude d(B 2 /20 )/ds but opposite in direction, so they cancel, as they must.

Example 1 A uniform eld

Consider the eld B = B0 y where B0 is a constant.

B is uniform, so the magnetic pressure and tension are also uniform. Hence there is no net magnetic force. 2

4H MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS - The Navier-Stokes Equation

As a check, let us calculate the Lorentz force. We have 0 j = B = 0. Hence j B = 0. This is consistent with our qualitative solution based on the ideas of magnetic pressure and tension.

Example 2 A non-uniform, unidirectional eld

Consider the eld B = B0 ex y where B0 is a constant.

We know: 1. B is independent of y, so there can be no net force in the y-direction. 2. |B| increases with x so magnetic pressure increases with x. Hence there is a magnetic pressure gradient force in the x direction. 3. The eld lines are straight so there is no net magnetic tension force. Hence there is a net magnetic force in the x direction. As a check, let us calculate the Lorentz force. 0 j = Then jB = B = (0, B0 ex , 0) = (0, 0, B0 ex ) .

1 2 1 B0 ex z B0 ex y = B0 e2x x . 0 0

This is consistent with our qualitative solution based on the ideas of magnetic pressure and tension. It is interesting to calculate separately the magnetic pressure and tension forces for this case: 1 1 (B )B = B0 ex B = 0. 0 0 y B2 20 =
2 B0 e2x 20

1 2 2x B e x. 0 0

Hence there is a zero net magnetic tension force. The Lorentz force is purely a magnetic pressure force. This is consistent with the eld lines being straight and the eld strength increasing with x. 3

4H MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS - The Navier-Stokes Equation

Example 3 A curved eld

Consider the eld B = B0 (y, 1, 0) where B0 is a constant. The equation of the eld lines is given by dx dy = , y 1 so y2 . dx = y dy x = c 2 This is the equation of a parabola, so the eld looks like:

Considering a parcel of uid on the x-axis: 1. The system is symmetric about the x-axis and is independent of x so there is no net magnetic pressure force. 2. The curvature of the eld lines results in a net magnetic tension force in the x direction. For a uid parcel located away from the x-axis: 1. Since the eld strength B0 1 + y 2 increases with distance from the x-axis, there is a net magnetic pressure force towards the x-axis. 2. The curvature of the eld lines implies a magnetic tension force in the direction towards the x-axis and in the x direction. Additionally the increase in the eld strength with |y| implies a net tension force along the eld lines in the direction of increasing |y|.

3. We know that the combination of the tension and pressure forces is a force normal to B. As a check, let us calculate the Lorentz force: 0 j = Then jB = B = B0 (y, 1, 0) = B0 (0, 0, 1) .

2 B0 B2 (0, 0, 1) (y, 1, 0) = 0 (1, y, 0) , 0 0

4H MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS - The Navier-Stokes Equation

It is interesting to calculate individually the pressure and tension forces: 1 (B 0 )B = B2 20

2 B0 0

+ x y

(y, 1, 0) =

2 B0 x. 0

2 B0 B2 (1 + y 2 ) = 0 y . y y 20 y 0

Hence the y-component of the force is magnetic pressure and the x-component is magnetic tension.

Magnetohydrostatic Balance
When the gravitational force is included, the Navier-Stokes equation becomes u + (u t )u = p +
2

u + j B + g ,

(3.7)

where g is the gravitational acceleration. When |u| is small, this reduces to 0 = p + j B + g (3.8)

In the absence of the Lorentz force, there are only two terms; the pressure gradient and the gravitational force. A balance between these two is called a hydrostatic balance. For example, such a balance determines the increase in pressure with depth in the oceans. With the Lorentz force included it is called a magnetohydrostatic balance.

Force-free elds
In many applications, for example the Solar atmosphere, the gravitational term g is small compared with the pressure gradient term p. Further, consider the ratio = 20 p0 , B2 0 (3.9)

where p0 is a typical pressure and B0 a typical eld strength. The non-dimensional parameter measures the relative strength of the pressure gradient force to the Lorentz force. When 1, (3.8) reduces to j B = 0. (3.10)

The parameter is called the plasma beta. When it is small, the uid is dominated by the Lorentz force. Fields satisfying (3.10) are called force free since, even though B = 0 (and in fact |B| is large), the Lorentz force vanishes (to leading order). 5

4H MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS - The Navier-Stokes Equation

A special case is where j = 0. Such elds are called current free or potential elds. The latter name derives from the fact that when the current vanishes, B = 0 which means that B can be written as the gradient of some potential (B = ). Considerable use is made of this fact for elds in insulators (for example the Earths mantle) where the current necessarily vanishes. Here we are more interested in the application to conductors. More generally, (3.10) has solution B = B , where is a scalar function. From this it follows that 0 = i.e. Thus is perpendicular to B. In other words is constant along eld lines. B = 0. (3.12) ( B) = (B) = B + B . (3.11)

Example = constant
Consider the case where is a constant. Taking the curl of (3.11): ( B) =
2

since B = 0,

( B)

B =

B = B

B + B

(B)

= 0 and we have used (3.11). Hence + 2 B = 0 . (3.13)

One relatively simple example of such a eld is one of the form B = (0, B (s), Bz (s)) , where (s, , z) are cylindrical polars. For this eld, (3.13) becomes 1d s ds s dB 1 + 2 2 B = 0 , ds s 1d dBz s + 2 Bz = 0 . s ds ds

(3.14)

These have the solutions (regular at s = 0) B = B0 J1 (s) , Bz = B0 J0 (s) , (3.15)

where J0 and J1 are the Bessel functions of the rst kind of orders 0 and 1 respectively. Note that the arbitrary constant amplitude B0 is the same for both B and Bz . This is not a consequence of (3.14) (where the equations for B and Bz are independent), but can be determined from the original equation (3.11). Note that J0 (x) = J1 (x). 6