Travelling wave solutions on an axisymmetric ferrofluid jet

Abstract

We consider a potential flow model of axisymmetric waves travelling on a ferrofluid jet. The ferrofluid coats a copper wire, through which an electric current is run. The induced azimuthal magnetic field magnetises the ferrofluid, which in turn stabilises the well known Plateau–Rayleigh instability seen in axisymmetric capillary jets. This model is of interest because the stabilising mechanism allows for axisymmetric magnetohydrodynamical solitary waves. A numerical scheme capable of computing steady periodic, solitary and generalised solitary wave solutions is presented. It is found that the solution space for the model is very similar to that of the classical problem of two-dimensional gravity–capillary waves.