Ohmic dissipation and relaxation of force-free magnetic fields

Journal Article · Wed May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1985 · Astrophysics (Engl. Transl.); (United States)

OSTI ID:5928623

Solov'ev, A A

A study is made of the process of passive ohmic dissipation of a force-free magnetic field in a low-pressure plasma with inhomogeneous conductivity. It is shown that the force-free field (curl ..-->..H = ..cap alpha -->..H) preserves its geometrical shape in the process of the dissipation if the ratio ..cap alpha../sup 2//sigma does not depend on the coordinates. The process of topological resistive relaxation of a force-free field in a twisted magnetic loop to the state with least magnetic energy is investigated. It is found that for fixed external pressure and given moment of the forces at the ends of the magnetic loop a uniformly twisted magnetic filament corresponds to this state. Taylor's relaxation model is analyzed critically. It is shown that a force-free field of variable sign with ..cap alpha.. = const corresponds to a minimum of only the ratio epsilon/K, where K is the spirality of the field, and not to a minimum of the total magnetic energy epsilon /sub m/ of the system.

• Research Organization: Kalmyh State Univ., Elista
• OSTI ID: 5928623
• Journal Information: Astrophysics (Engl. Transl.); (United States), Journal Name: Astrophysics (Engl. Transl.); (United States) Vol. 20:6; ISSN ATPYA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640201* -- Atmospheric Physics-- Auroral
Ionospheric
& Magetospheric Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ALFVEN WAVES
BESSEL FUNCTIONS
COSMIC GASES
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
ELECTRIC HEATING
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
ENERGY LOSSES
FLUID MECHANICS
FLUIDS
FORCE-FREE MAGNETIC FIELDS
FUNCTIONS
GASES
HEATING
HYDRODYNAMICS
HYDROMAGNETIC WAVES
INHOMOGENEOUS PLASMA
INSTABILITY
JOULE HEATING
LOSSES
MAGNETIC FIELD CONFIGURATIONS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
MECHANICS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PLASMA
PLASMA FILAMENT
PLASMA HEATING
PLASMA INSTABILITY
PLASMA SIMULATION
RELAXATION
RELAXATION LOSSES
RESISTANCE HEATING
SIMULATION