Selection of the Saffman-Taylor Finger Width
              in the Absence of Surface Tension: an Exact Result

                                   by

                          Mark Mineev-Weinstein
           Theoretical Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory

               INSCC 110, 3:30pm  Monday, February 22, 1999


                                Abstract

                           
Using exact time-dependent non-singular solutions, 
we solve the Saffman-Taylor finger selection problem 
in the absence of surface tension.  We show that a 
generic interface in a Hele-Shaw cell evolves to a 
non-linearly stable single uniformly advancing finger 
occupying one half of the channel width. This result 
contradicts the generally accepted belief that surface 
tension is indispensable for the selection of the 
1/2-width finger. 
(based on the article in Phys.Rev.Lett 80. p.2113, 1998)



Request for preprints and reprints to 
       Mark Mineev <mineev@t13.lanl.gov>
This information can be found at http://www.math.utah.edu/research/