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Containment forces in low energy states of plasmoids

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 March 2009

Daniel R. Wells  and
Lawrence Carl Hawkins
Daniel R. Wells
Affiliation:
Department of Physics, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida
Lawrence Carl Hawkins
Affiliation:
Department of Physics, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida
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Abstract

The application of Hamilton's principle to the problem of the determination of the structure of low free energy state plasmoids is discussed. It is shown that Clebsch representations of the vector fields and representations involving side conditions on the functional result in the same sets of Euler–Lagrange equations. The relationship of these representations to the problem of containment forces in vortex structures (plasmoids) is considered. It is demonstrated that the lowest free energy state of an incompressible plasma is always Lorentz force and Magnus force free. For a compressible plasma obeying the adiabatic gas laws, the Magnus force is finite. Introduction of conservation of angular momentum as an additional side condition also results in finite containment forces.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Plasma Physics , Volume 38 , Issue 2 , October 1987 , pp. 263 - 274
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1987

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