Computer modeling of the instability of a horizontal magnetic-fluid layer in a uniform magnetic field

The stability of an initially flat layer of magnetic fluid that occupies the lower half-space under the influence of gravity and a uniform magnetic field normal to the plane surface is investigated numerically. Neutral curves of stability, critical parameters corresponding to the onset of instability, the equilibrium surface shape, and amplitudes of the perturbed surface are determined as functions of the magnetic-field intensity and magnetic-fluid properties.