Toroidal plasma equilibrium with arbitrary current distribution
Abstract
A new System of co-ordinates is found and a method developed to determine the toroidal equilibrium of plasmas with arbitrary current distribution and plasma cross-section. The method depends on knowledge of the equilibrium of a straight plasma column of similar cross-section and similar current distribution. A large aspect ratio is assumed. By successive approximations, better solutions can be obtained. An explicit formula is presented for the poloidal flux of a nearly circular plasma. This can be written in terms of a function related to the asymmetry of the poloidal field due to toroidality. The method works provided that there is only one magnetic axis.
- Publication:
-
Journal of Plasma Physics
- Pub Date:
- October 1990
- DOI:
- 10.1017/S0022377800015191
- Bibcode:
- 1990JPlPh..44..303K