An energy principle for hydromagnetic stability problems

TLDR

The study investigates the stability of static, highly conducting, fully ionized plasmas using an energy principle derived from Lundquist's formulation. The authors derive the principle, specify its applicability, and use it to establish complete stability criteria for plasmas separated from magnetic fields by an interface and for general axisymmetric systems.

Abstract

The problem of the stability of static, highly conducting, fully ionized plasmas is investigated by means of an energy principle developed from one introduced by Lundquist. The derivation of the principle and the conditions under which it applies are given. The method is applied to find complete stability criteria for two types of equilibrium situations. The first concerns plasmas which are completely separated from the magnetic field by an interface. The second is the general axisymmetric system.