Gauging magnetorotational instability

Previously (Z. Angew. Math. Phys. 57:615–622, 2006), we examined the axisymmetric stability of viscous resistive magnetized Couette flow with emphasis on flows that would be hydrodynamically stable according to Rayleigh’s criterion: opposing gradients of angular velocity and specific angular momentum. A uniform axial magnetic field permeates the fluid. In this regime, magnetorotational instability (MRI) may occur. It was proved that MRI is suppressed, in fact no instability at all occurs, with insulating boundary conditions, when a term multipling the magnetic Prandtl number is neglected. Likewise, in the current work, including this term, when the magnetic resistivity is sufficiently large, MRI is suppressed. This shows conclusively that small magnetic dissipation is a feature of this instability for all magnetic Prandtl numbers. A criterion is provided for the onset of MRI.