Characterization and Stability of High Beta Spherical Flows

The fluid response of a fully compressible, isothermal plasma in investigated in a spherical system with application to the Madison Plasma Dynamo Experiment (MPDX). Numerical results are found in a fully spectral code, solving separately for the equilibrium profile of a given drive, and the linear eigenmodes of the system. The example flows are driven by a large radial current drawn across a small axial field generating torque across the system. Numerical calculations show sample conditions near achievable conditions for exciting various instabilities, with the MRI and the dynamo instabilities of primary focus.