Magnetohydrodynamics equilibrium of a self-confined elliptical plasma ball
- CCAST (World Laboratory) P. O. Box 8730, Beijing 100080 and Institute of Mechanics, Academia Sinica, Beijing, People's Republic of China (CN)
- Department of Physics, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712 (USA)
A variational principle is applied to the problem of magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) equilibrium of a self-contained elliptical plasma ball, such as elliptical ball lightning. The principle is appropriate for an approximate solution of partial differential equations with arbitrary boundary shape. The method reduces the partial differential equation to a series of ordinary differential equations and is especially valuable for treating boundaries with nonlinear deformations. The calculations conclude that the pressure distribution and the poloidal current are more uniform in an oblate self-confined plasma ball than that of an elongated plasma ball. The ellipticity of the plasma ball is obviously restricted by its internal pressure, magnetic field, and ambient pressure. Qualitative evidence is presented for the absence of sighting of elongated ball lightning.
- OSTI ID:
- 5466571
- Journal Information:
- Physics of Fluids B; (United States), Vol. 3:8; ISSN 0899-8221
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Ellipticity of axisymmetric equilibria with flow and pressure anisotropy in single-fluid and Hall magnetohydrodynamics
High-beta analytic equilibria in circular, elliptical, and D-shaped large aspect ratio axisymmetric configurations with poloidal and toroidal flows
Related Subjects
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
BALL LIGHTNING
EQUILIBRIUM
PLASMA
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
ELLIPTICAL CONFIGURATION
NONLINEAR PROBLEMS
PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
VARIATIONAL METHODS
CONFIGURATION
ELECTRIC DISCHARGES
EQUATIONS
FLUID MECHANICS
HYDRODYNAMICS
LIGHTNING
MECHANICS
640430* - Fluid Physics- Magnetohydrodynamics