Three-dimensional magnetohydrostatic instabilities of rotating ferrofluid drops

Abstract Theoretical predictions of the equilibrium shape and stability of rotating sessile ferrofluid drops in a magnetic field are drawn from the equations of capillary magnetohydrostatics. The problem is three dimensional, non-linear and free boundary and it is solved by the Galerkin/finite element method. Axisymmetric and non-axisymmetric shapes are found and the effects of parameters on their multiplicity and stability are computed.