Energy considerations for linear instabilities of parallel magnetohydrodynamic flows.

A formulation with the flow as the prime source of instability and dissipation as a triggering mechanism is presented as an alternative to the "negative energy" formulation of instabilities of parallel flows. The formulation is based on the linear wave energy equation. The apparent opposition between the "negative energy" wave formulation and the linear wave energy formulation, where the wave energy is always positive, is resolved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]