Spheromaks : a practical application of magnetohydrodynamic dynamos and plasma self-organization / Paul M. Bellan.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 303-313) and index.

"Spheromaks are easily formed, self-organized magnetized plasma configurations that have intrigued plasma physicists for over two decades." "This book begins with a review of the basic concepts of magnetohydrodynamics and toroidal magnetic configurations, then provides a detailed exposition of the 3D topological concepts underlying spheromak physics, namely magnetic helicity, Taylor relaxation, force-free equilibria, and tilt stability. It then examines spheromak formation techniques, driven and isolated configurations, dynamo concepts, practical experimental issues, diagnostics, and a number of applications. The book concludes by showing how spheromak ideas are closely related to the physics of solar prominences and interplanetary magnetic clouds."--Jacket

1. Introduction -- 2. Basic Concepts -- 3. Magnetic Helicity -- 4. Relaxation of an Isolated Configuration to the Taylor State -- 5. Relaxation in Driven Configurations -- 6. The MHD Energy Principle, Helicity, and Taylor States -- 7. Survey of Spheromak Formation Schemes -- 8. Classification of Regimes: an Imperfect Analogy to Thermodynamics -- 9. Analysis of Isolated Cylindrical Spheromaks -- 10. The Role of the Wall -- 11. Analysis of Driven Spheromaks: Strong Coupling -- 12. Helicity Flow and Dynamos -- 13. Confinement and Transport in Spheromaks -- 14. Some Important Practical Issues -- 15. Basic Diagnostics for Spheromaks -- 16. Applications of Spheromaks -- 17. Solar and Space Phenomena Related to Spheromaks -- App. A. Vector Identities and Operators -- App. B. Bessel Orthogonality Relations -- App. C. Capacitor Banks -- App. D. Selected Formulae.

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