Cancellation of the Velikhov instability by magnetic confinement

In high Hall parameter regimes, a nonhomogeneous magnetic field creates a nonhomogeneous electrical conductivity, which tends to guide the electric current. In some nonequilibrium and a priori unstable configurations, it is shown that magnetic confinement may cancel the Velikhov instability and strongly control the current density pattern. Furthermore, this guidance appears to be stronger than the Hall effect itself, such as it can almost suppress the transverse electric current. 6 refs., 5 figs