STABILITY OF FLUID INTERFACES CARRYING AN ELECTRIC-CURRENT IN THE PRESENCE OF A MAGNETIC-FIELD

The stability of an interface between two liquid layers, sandwiched by solid electrodes, is studied by a perturbation method. The horizontal directions of the four media are considered to be infinite. Thicknesses and electric conductivities of each medium are finite, so the influence on the interface position of electromagnetic phenomena inside the electrodes can be taken into account. The importance of non-uniformity of electric currents is underlined, as its interaction with a non-uniform magnetic field. First it appears necessary to lay an emphasis on large wavelengths phenomena. Secondly, some elementary mechanisms are described.