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Magnetohydrodynamics

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Encyclopedia of Astrobiology

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Synonyms

Hydro­magnetics; Magneto-fluid dynamics

Acronyms

MHD:

Magnetohydrodynamics

Definition

Magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) is a physical paradigm pertinent to describe the dynamics of electrically conducting fluids, such as plasmas, electrolytes, and liquid metals. MHD couples fluids dynamics with electromagnetism.

History

The first recorded use of the word magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) can be found in Alfvén (1942), who initiated this field. Hannes Alfvén received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1970 for his work on MHD

Overview

Magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) is a set of postulates and theories that enables a synthetic description of the behavior of electrically conducting fluids subject to electromagnetic fields. Plasmas, liquid metals, electrolytes are example of electrofluids. Since plasma is by far the most abundant form of ordinary matter, MHD is a key paradigm in astrophysics, applying to stars and the Sun (formation, dynamo mechanism, atmospheric dynamics, eruptions, jets), star-planet...

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sorbonne Université, Ecole polytechnique, Institut Polytechnique de Paris, Université Paris Saclay, Observatoire de Paris-PSL, CNRS, Laboratoire de Physique des Plasmas (LPP), Paris, France

    Etienne Pariat

  2. LESIA, Observatoire de Paris, Université PSL, Sorbonne Université, Université Paris Cité, CNRS, Meudon, France

    Etienne Pariat

Authors
  1. Etienne Pariat
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Correspondence to Etienne Pariat .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Bordeaux, University of Bordeaux, Pessac CX, France

    Muriel Gargaud

  2. Department of Astronomy, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA

    William M. Irvine

  3. Centro Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Univ. Autónoma de Madrid Cantoblanco, Madrid, Spain

    Ricardo Amils

  4. Analytical-, Environm., Geo-Chemistry, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, VUB, Brussels, Belgium

    Philippe Claeys

  5. Earth-Life Science Institute, Tokyo Institute of Technology, WASHINGTON, DC, USA

    Henderson James Cleaves

  6. Radio Astronomy, Paris Observatory, Paris, France

    Maryvonne Gerin

  7. Observatoire de Paris-Meudon, Meudon, France

    Daniel Rouan

  8. International Space Science Institute, Bern, Bern, Switzerland

    Tilman Spohn

  9. Centre Francois Viète, Universite de Nantes, Nantes, France

    Stéphane Tirard

  10. Innovaxiom, Paris CX, France

    Michel Viso

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Pariat, E. (2022). Magnetohydrodynamics. In: Gargaud, M., et al. Encyclopedia of Astrobiology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_2706-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_2706-2

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-27833-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-27833-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Physics and AstronomyReference Module Physical and Materials ScienceReference Module Chemistry, Materials and Physics

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