On hydromagnetic precession in a cylinder

Abstract

The hydrodynamic theory of the resonant cylinder (Gans 1970) is extended to include the effects of a magnetic field parallel to the rotation axis. The linear response is modified by a change in boundary-layer suction and a change in the resonant length. These effects are of equal importance. The theory is valid for small container conductivity and for amplitudes such that the cube of the amplitude is less than the dimensionless precession rate. The importance of container conductivity is assessed. The free modes of the system are given in an appendix. These modes move both east and west. Experimental apparatus capable of producing magnetic Reynolds numbers of the order of 20 for indefinite lengths of time is described. The apparatus was used to assess the linear theory, though not designed for this purpose. Experiments beyond the range of linear theory are described. The results show finite amplitude effects similar to those previously observed in precessing spheroids in the absence of magnetic effects (Malkus 1968). Additional structure attributable to magnetic effects is observed.