Ideal magnetohydrodynamics

Book · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI ID:5612158

Freidberg, J P

Over the past 2 decades, ideal magnetohydrodynamics (MHD), has developed into a relatively mature theory within the field of plasma physics. MHD represents the simplest, self-consistent model describing the macroscopic equilibrium and stability properties of plasma. Thus, the role of ideal MHD in magnetic fusion is the discovery of magnetic geometries that possess attractive equilibrium and stability properties for fusion reactors. This book is based on the author's two-semester sequence in MHD theory offered at MIT. The first semester is devoted to ideal magnetohydrodynamics and is largely involved in studying equilibrium and fast, often catastrophic, instabilities. The second semester treats slower, nonideal effects (such as resistivity, pressure anisotropy, and finite Larmor radius effects) and their influence on plasmas that are stable or at most, weakly unstable against the ideal modes. This textbook is concerned with the first semester's material. The author's goal is to provide an in-depth introduction to the subject of ideal magnetohydrodynamics. The style has a theoretical emphasis with considerable discussion of the application of theory to experiments and generous examples of the experiments themselves. The book has been written to satisfy the needs of the pedagogical requirements of the student. Accordingly, there are many descriptive explanations and virtually every equation is derived - either in detail, in outline form, or in the Appendices. Chapters are basically divided between equilibrium: general considerations, one-dimensional configurations, two-dimensional configurations, three-dimensional configurations; and stability; general considerations, one-dimensional configurations, and multidimensional configurations.

• OSTI ID: 5612158
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700100* -- Fusion Energy-- Plasma Research
700200 -- Fusion Energy-- Fusion Power Plant Technology
ABSTRACTS
BOUNDARY CONDITIONS
CONSERVATION LAWS
DOCUMENT TYPES
EQUILIBRIUM
FLUID MECHANICS
HEATING
HYDRODYNAMICS
INSTABILITY
LEADING ABSTRACT
MAGNETIC FIELD CONFIGURATIONS
MAGNETIC FLUX
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
MAGNETS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MECHANICS
MHD EQUILIBRIUM
PINCH EFFECT
PLASMA
PLASMA HEATING
PLASMA INSTABILITY
PLASMA SIMULATION
SIMULATION
STABILITY
THERMONUCLEAR DEVICES
THERMONUCLEAR REACTORS