Nonlinear stability of an axial electric field: Effect of interfacial charge relaxation

Abstract

We introduce a nonlinear perturbation technique to third order, to study the stability between two cylindrical inviscid fluids, subjected to an axial electric field. The study takes into account the relaxation of electrical charges at the interface between the two fluids. At first order, a linear dispersion relation is obtained. Analytical and numerical results for the overstability and incipient instability conditions are given. For perfect dielectric fluids, the electric field has a stabilizing influence, while for leaky dielectric fluids, the electric field can have either a stabilizing or a destabilizing influence depending on the conductivity and permittivity ratios of the two fluids. At higher order, a nonlinear dispersion relation (nonlinear Ginzburg–Landau equation) is derived, describing the evolution of wave packets of the problem. For leaky dielectric fluids near the marginal state, a nonlinear diffusion equation (nonlinear incipient instability) is obtained. For perfect dielectric fluids, two cubic nonlinear Schrödinger equations are obtained. One of these equations to determine a nonlinear cutoff electric field separating stable and unstable disturbance, whereas the other is used to analyze the stability of the system. It is found that the nonlinear stability criterion depending on the ratio of permittivity, Such effects can only be explained successfully in the nonlinear sense, as the linear analysis unsuccessful to inform about them.