Abstract
A nonaxisymmetric stable magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) equilibrium within a prolate cylindrical conducting boundary has been produced experimentally. It has azimuthal symmetry, helical distortion, and flat profile, all in agreement with the computed magnetically relaxed minimum magnetic energy Taylor state. Despite varied initial conditions determined by two helicity injectors on the device, this same equilibrium consistently emerges as the final state. These results therefore describe a new example of self-organization in an MHD plasma.
- Received 18 September 2009
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.103.215002
©2009 American Physical Society
Synopsis
A skein of plasma
Published 16 November 2009
The magnetic field generated by a plasma can lack cylindrical symmetry even when the initial plasma state is perfectly symmetrical.
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