Lorentz self-forces on curved current loops

Journal Article · Sat Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1994 · Physics of Plasmas; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.870491· OSTI ID:6644797

Garren, D A; Chen, J ^[1]

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1. Beam Physics Branch, Plasma Physics Division, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, D.C. 20375 (United States)

A derivation is presented for the Lorentz self-force arising from the interaction of a slender current loop of arbitrary shape with its own magnetic field. The self-force on any loop segment depends explicitly on the global shape of the remainder of the loop. Calculations of the self-force are presented for various model loops. For loops having small to moderate noncircularity, it is shown that the self-force on a segment with local major ([ital R]) and minor ([ital a]) radii is approximately that for an axisymmetric torus having uniform [ital R] and [ital a]. These properties of the self-force critically influence the equilibrium and dynamics of thin current loops in solar and astrophysical plasmas.

• OSTI ID: 6644797
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas; (United States), Vol. 1:10; ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
LORENTZ FORCE
BIOT-SAVART LAW
EARTH MAGNETOSPHERE
ELECTRODYNAMICS
MAGNETIC FIELD CONFIGURATIONS
MAGNETIC FLUX
SOLAR CORONA
TOROIDAL CONFIGURATION
ANNULAR SPACE
ATMOSPHERES
CLOSED CONFIGURATIONS
CONFIGURATION
CURRENTS
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
SOLAR ATMOSPHERE
SPACE
STELLAR ATMOSPHERES
STELLAR CORONAE
661300* - Other Aspects of Physical Science- (1992-)
661320 - Auroral
Ionospheric
& Magnetospheric Phenomena- (1992-)