Physics:Elsasser number

The Elsasser number, Λ, is a dimensionless number in magnetohydrodynamics that represents the ratio of magnetic forces to the Coriolis force.

$$\mathrm{\Lambda }=\frac{\sigma B^2}{\rho \mathrm{\Omega }}$$

where σ is the conductivity of the fluid, B is the magnetic field, ρ is the density of the fluid, and Ω is the rate of rotation of the body.

Applications

This number is useful when studying the linear stability of an accretion disc to the magnetorotational instability.

References

• Gubbins, David; Herrero-Bervera, Emilio (2007), Encyclopedia of geomagnetism and paleomagnetism, Springer, doi:10.1007/978-1-4020-4423-6, ISBN 978-1-4020-3992-8