Medical Definition of Interchange instability
1.
In the simplest form, if you place a high-density fluid on top of a low density fluid, gravity will pull the high density fluid downwards so that the low-density fluid ends up on top. The two fluids therefore interchange places. More generally, an interchange instability occurs when two types of fluid are situated with an external force such that the potential energy is not a minimum, the two fluids will then interchange locations to bring the potential energy to a minimum. In plasmas with magnetic fields, the plasma may interchange position with the magnetic field. A prime example is the flute instability in mirror machines. (See magnetohydrodynamic, instability, flute, mirror.)
(09 Oct 1997)
Lexicographical Neighbors of Interchange Instability
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