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Resistive evolution of a force-free plasma to equilibrium

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 March 2009

A. S. Gill  and
E. W. Laing
A. S. Gill
Affiliation:
Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, U.K.
E. W. Laing
Affiliation:
Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, U.K.
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Abstract

Using the magnetohydrodynamic model, the evolution of a resistive plasma can be represented as a relaxation through a sequence of force-free equilibrium states. We show, by extending existing work, that this process is equivalent to magnetic field diffusion in a strongly anisotropie static conductor. The latter evolution is easier to simulate numerically, and is carried out for laboratory based plasmas confined in cylinders and toroids. We obtain a variety of universal equilibrium profiles that are consistent with experiment and relaxation theory and that predict the existence of states arising in reversed-field pinches. The existence of a critical axial flux is predicted about which there exist stable modes of operation corresponding to high and low current. We also show the existence of a critical aspect ratio at which it is most desirable to build toroidal devices. This corresponds to the value at which maximum current, for a fixed driving field, can be generated.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Plasma Physics , Volume 46 , Issue 3 , December 1991 , pp. 437 - 457
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1991

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