Effect of gyro-viscosity on Rayleigh-Taylor instability of a plasma

Abstract

The effect of finite ion-Larmor radius is considered on the Rayleigh-Taylor instability of a plasma. The macroscopic equations of motion are used where the finite ion-Larmor radius effects are incorporated in the stress tensor. The finite ion-Larmor radius stabilization of the interchange mode is demonstrated. For disturbances propagating along the magnetic field, it is found that the inclusion of gyro-viscosity has a stabilizing effect; it increases the critical wavenumber (compared to its value in the absence of gyro-viscosity) beyond which all modes are unstable.