Determination of Hydromagnetic Equilibria

Abstract

Techniques for calculating hydromagnetic equilibria in toroidal systems which differ little from a uniform field are developed. The zeroth‐order magnetic surfaces in these systems differ appreciably from concentric circular toroids. Care is taken to match onto reasonable external fields at the plasma boundary. Expressions for various equilibrium properties including the rotational transform, the net current on each surface, and the magnetic lines of force are obtained. As an illustration of the theory it is shown that the application of a particular field perpendicular to the plane of the torus reduces the distortion associated with the introduction of pressure into the system.