Flux surface: Difference between revisions

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:<math>\psi = \int_{S_p}{\vec B \cdot \vec n dS}</math>
:<math>\psi = \int_{S_p}{\vec B \cdot \vec n dS}</math>


where ''S<sub>p</sub>'' is a ring-shaped ribbon stretched between the magnetic axis and the flux surface ''f'', and the toroidal flux by
where ''S<sub>p</sub>'' is a ring-shaped ribbon stretched between the magnetic axis and the flux surface ''f''.
(Alternatively, ''S<sub>p</sub>'' can be taken to be a horizontal surface spanning the central hole of the torus.<ref>[http://link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/RevModPhys.76.1071 A.H. Boozer, ''Physics of magnetically confined plasmas'', Rev. Mod. Phys. '''76''' (2005) 1071 - 1141]</ref>)
Likewise, the toroidal flux is defined by


:<math>\phi = \int_{S_t}{\vec B \cdot \vec n dS}</math>
:<math>\phi = \int_{S_t}{\vec B \cdot \vec n dS}</math>

Revision as of 15:38, 14 September 2009

A given smooth surface S with normal n is a flux surface of a smooth vector field B when

everywhere on S. It is then possible to define a scalar flux function (f) such that its value is constant on the surface S, and

In three dimensions, the only closed flux surface corresponding to a non-vanishing vector field is a topological toroid. [1] This fact lies at the basis of the design of magnetic confinement devices.

Assuming the flux surfaces have this toroidal topology, the function f defines a set of nested surfaces, so it makes sense to use this function to label the flux surfaces, i.e., f may be used as a "radial" coordinate. Each toroidal surface f encloses a volume V(f). The surface corresponding to an infinitesimal volume V is essentially a line that corresponds to the toroidal axis (called magnetic axis when B is a magnetic field).

The flux F through an arbitrary surface S is given by


Diagram showing the surfaces defining the poloidal (red) and toroidal (blue) flux

When B is a magnetic field with toroidal nested flux surfaces, two magnetic fluxes can be defined from two corresponding surfaces. [2] The poloidal flux is defined by

where Sp is a ring-shaped ribbon stretched between the magnetic axis and the flux surface f. (Alternatively, Sp can be taken to be a horizontal surface spanning the central hole of the torus.[3]) Likewise, the toroidal flux is defined by

where St is a poloidal section of the flux surface. It is natural to use ψ or φ to label the flux surfaces instead of the unphysical label f.

See also

References

  1. The Poincaré-Hopf Theorem.
  2. R.D. Hazeltine, J.D. Meiss, Plasma Confinement, Courier Dover Publications (2003) ISBN 0486432424
  3. A.H. Boozer, Physics of magnetically confined plasmas, Rev. Mod. Phys. 76 (2005) 1071 - 1141