Problems in Magneto-Fluid Dynamics

A survey is given of the problems encountered when investigating a conducting liquid or gas moving in a msgnetic field. It is considered that magneto-fluid dynamics include all problems which may arise when a gas or liquid is interacting with a magnetic field. The various problems are grouped together according to the magnitude of the mean macroscopic velocity v, defined as the mean velocity of all particles in a small volume element at a particular time. The survey includes discussions on: the basic processes of the field; the situation in which v vanishes and a magnetostatic equilibrium is present; problems of infinitesimal v, including both waves and instabilities; problems of finite v for a steady state system and the situation where time derivatives are not zero; and the most important magnetofluids found in nature and in the laberatory. (39 references). (B.O.G.)