Interaction between counter-rotating azimuthal and axial liquid metal flows in cylindrical channel

This study examines the parameter region in which a solitary rotating vortex can form in an axial liquid metal flow. For different ratios of azimuthal and axial flow intensities, the flow pattern changes significantly. At high intensity of the axial flow the second vortex is completely suppressed by the first vortex. The rotating vortex has clear-cut boundaries. In the flow regions before and after the vortex generation, the vorticity is close to zero. After switching off electromagnetic forces, the vortex is carried by the axial flow along the channel.