Containing liquid metal in a vacuum by circularly polarized magnetic field in the presence of a conducting jacket

Abstract

In this article we study the possibility of stable containment of a liquid metal in a vacuum by a high-frequency circularly polarized magnetic field. It is considered that the oscillation frequency of the metal, in view of its inertia, is considerably less than the field rotation frequency. The problem is solved in the two-dimensional formulation. In the case of infinite conductivity of the liquid it is shown that by selecting the required distance of the metal from the jacket all possible disturbances may be stabilized. Then we consider the case of finite conductivity, but with high field frequency and with disturbances for which the skin layer oscillates together with the liquid as an elastic film, and it is shown that the stability criterion remains as before. Then the case of shortwave disturbances (small magnetic Reynolds numbers) is considered. These disturbances can be stabilized only by surface tension forces; therefore, for stability, it is necessary that the skin layer depth be sufficiently small.