Electrohydrodynamic Kelvin-Helmholtz Instability of Two Rotating Dielectric Fluids

A linear stability analysis of a novel electrohydrodynamic Kelvin-Helmholtz system consisting of the superposition of two uniformly rotating dielectric media is presented. The characteristic equation for such an arrangement is derived, which in turn yields a stability criterion for velocity differences of disturbances at a given rotation frequency. The conditions of stability for long and short wave perturbations are obtained, and their dependence on rotation, surface tension and applied electric field is discussed. Limiting cases for vanishing fluid velocities, rotation frequency, and applied electric field are also discussed. Under suitable limits, results of previous works are recovered. A detailed analysis for tangential and normal applied electric fields, in the presence and absence of surface charges, is carried out.