Abstract
Within the frame of linear stability theory an analytical method
is presented for the normal field instability in magnetic fluids.
It allows to calculate the maximal growth rate and the corresponding
wave number for arbitrary values of the layer thickness and viscosity.
Applying this method to magnetic fluids of finite depth, the results
are quantitatively compared to the wave number of the transient pattern
observed experimentally after a jumplike increase of the field.
The wave number grows linearly with increasing induction where the
theoretical and the experimental data agree well.
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