The shape of a liquid metal jet under a non-uniform magnetic field.

Abstract

The shape of a horizontal slender jet of a liquid metal issuing from non-contacting circular nozzles under a non-uniform magnetic field is discussed. Our primary interests are to determine the shape of the free surface of the jet under such a field, and to demonstrate the possibility of the magnetic shape control of liquid metal jets. The basic equations of MHD flows are simplified by neglecting the terms concerning the viscosity, and solutions of the approximate analysis are presented. Parameters on which the magnetic shaping of jets are dependent are made clear. A jet with a circular initial shape forms a thin sheet, but maintains the same cross-sectional area. The shapes obtained by the approximate analysis are shown to be in good agreement with those of the experimental results using mercury.