The combined effect of polarization and free surface charges on the electric pressure jump in an ohmic/ohmic fluid interface

Abstract

We study in this paper the pressure instability mechanism in an ohmic/ohmic fluid interface stressed by a vertical stationary electric field. The study is carried out by means of a simplified (hydraulic) model, which is based in a system where the destabilizing action of the electric pressure is solely equilibrated by the gravitational pressure at the interface. We focus on the analysis of the combined effect of interfacial polarization and free charges on the pressure instability mechanism.