Stability of mixed Ekman–Hartmann boundary layers

Abstract. In this paper we study the nonlinear stability of Ekman–Hartmann-type boundary layers in a rotating magnetohydrodynamics flow in a half-space and between two planes. We prove rigorously that if the Reynolds number defined on boundary-layer characteristics is smaller than a critical value, the boundary layer is nonlinearly stable. It is shown that the normal component of the magnetic field increases the critical Reynolds number for instability. AMS classification scheme numbers: 35Q35, 76U05, 76W05 1. Introduction an