The effect of an applied transverse magnetic field on the development of a two-dimensional jet of incompressible fluid is examined. The jet is prescribed in terms of its mass flux ρQ0 and its lateral scale d at an initial section x = 0. The three dimensionless numbers characterizing the problem are a Reynolds number R = Q0/ν, a magnetic Reynolds number Rm = μσQ0, and a magnetic interaction parameter N = σB20d2/ρQ0, where ρ represents density, σ conductivity, μ permeability and B0 applied field strength, and it is assumed that \[ R_m \ll 1,\quad R\gg 1,\quad N\ll 1. \] It is shown that when M2 = RN [Gt ] 1, an inviscid treatment is appropriate, and that the effect of the magnetic field is then to destroy the jet momentum within a distance of order N−1 in the downstream direction. A general solution for inviscid development is obtained, and it is shown that a large class of velocity profiles (though not all of them) are self-preserving.

When M2 [Lt ] 1, it is shown that the viscous similarity solution obtained by Moreau (1963a, b) is relevant. This solution is re-derived and re-interpreted; it implies that the jet momentum is destroyed within a distance of order $R^{\frac{1}{4}}N^{-\frac{3}{4}}$ in the downstream direction.

Some further aspects of the jet annihilation problem are qualitatively discussed in § 4, viz. the nature of the overall flow field, the effect of the presence of distant boundaries, the effect of increasing Rm to order unity and greater, and the effect of oblique injection. Finally the development of a jet of conducting fluid into a nonconducting environment is considered; in this case the jet is not stopped by the magnetic field unless a return path outside the fluid for the induced current is available.