Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2019 / iii / Paper 321 / 3 / a / Solution

In the rotating shearing sheet, write the background orbital shear as ${\mathbf{U}}_0=-q\Omega x{\mathbf{e}}_y$. The rotating momentum equation contains Coriolis acceleration $2\mathbf{\Omega }\times \mathbf{u}$ and the shearing-sheet tidal potential; the background shear balances the radial tidal acceleration.

SetGauss's law for magnetism gives ${\partial }_z{B}_z=0$, and the vertical ideal magnetohydrodynamic induction equation gives ${\partial }_t{B}_z=0$. Horizontal invariance and $v_z=0$ remove the nonlinear horizontal advection. The remaining background-shear term is $(\mathbf{v}\cdot \nabla ){\mathbf{U}}_0=-q\Omega v_x{\mathbf{e}}_y$. The horizontal magnetic tension is $B_z{\partial }_z{\mathbf{B}}_h/{\mu }_0$, while horizontal pressure gradients vanish. Subtracting background balance yieldsFor ideal magnetohydrodynamics, the ideal magnetohydrodynamic induction equation is ${\partial }_t\mathbf{B}+\mathbf{u}\cdot \nabla \mathbf{B}=\mathbf{B}\cdot \nabla \mathbf{u}$. Its horizontal components giveThese horizontally invariant magnetized shearing-sheet equations are exact within the stated local, incompressible ansatz, even for finite horizontal amplitudes. The vertical equation determines the pressure needed to balance vertical gravity and magnetic pressure; it does not add another horizontal evolution equation.