On the Inhibition of Thermal Convection by a Magnetic Field under Zero Resistivity

Abstract

We investigate the stability and instability of the magnetic Rayleigh--B\'enard problem with zero resistivity. An stability criterion is established, under which the magnetic B\'enard problem is stable. The proof mainly is based on a three-layers energy method and an idea of magnetic inhibition mechanism. The stable result first mathematically verifies Chandrasekhar's assertion in 1955 that the thermal instability can be inhibited by strong magnetic field in magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) fluid with zero resistivity (based on a linearized steady magnetic B\'enard equations). In addition, we also provide an instability criterion, under which the magnetic Rayleigh--B\'enard problem is unstable. The proof mainly is based on the bootstrap instability method by further developing new analysis technique. Our instability result presents that the thermal instability occurs for a small magnetic field.