MHD equilibrium: Difference between revisions

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The force balance equation also implies that the surface ''p'' = constant is a flux surface (assuming flux surfaces exist).
The force balance equation also implies that the surface ''p'' = constant is a flux surface (assuming flux surfaces exist).


In three dimensions, the existence of flux surfaces (nested or not) is not guaranteed.
In three dimensions (as opposed to the ''effectively'' two-dimensional axisymmetric situation), the existence of flux surfaces (nested or not) is not guaranteed.
<ref>[http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.1761965 H. Grad, ''Toroidal Containment of a Plasma'', Phys. Fluids '''10''' (1967) 137]</ref>
<ref>[http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.1761965 H. Grad, ''Toroidal Containment of a Plasma'', Phys. Fluids '''10''' (1967) 137]</ref>
Assuming an initial situation with nested magnetic surfaces, the [[Magnetic shear|rotational transform]] of the field line on the surface may either be irrational so that the field line covers the surface entirely (ergodically), or rational.  
Assuming an initial situation with nested magnetic surfaces, the [[Magnetic shear|rotational transform]] of the field line on the surface may either be irrational so that the field line covers the surface entirely (ergodically), or rational.