Ideal incompressible axisymmetric MHD: Uncovering finite-time singularities
Phys. Rev. Fluids 11, 063701 – Published 10 June, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/l645-3ljm
Abstract
We provide compelling numerical evidence for the development of (potential) finite-time singularities in the three-dimensional axisymmetric, ideal, incompressible magnetohydrodynamic (IMHD) equations, in a wall-bounded cylindrical domain, starting from smooth initial data, for the velocity and magnetic fields. We demonstrate that the nature of the singularity depends crucially on the relative strength of the velocity and magnetic fields at the time of initialization: (i) if , then the swirl components, at the wall, evolve toward square profiles that lead to the intensification of shear at the meridional plane and the development of a finite-time singularity; (ii) if , there is no temporal evolution; (iii) if , then the swirl components, at the wall, evolve toward a cusp-type singularity. By examining the spatiotemporal evolution of the pressure, we obtain insights into the development of these singularities.