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arXiv · 1606.06727

Force-Free Foliations

Geoffrey Compère·Samuel E. Gralla·Alexandru Lupsasca
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Abstract

Electromagnetic field configurations with vanishing Lorentz force density are known as force-free and appear in terrestrial, space, and astrophysical plasmas. We explore a general method for finding such configurations based on formulating equations for the field lines rather than the field itself. The basic object becomes a foliation of spacetime or, in the stationary axisymmetric case, of the half-plane. We use this approach to find some new stationary and axisymmetric solutions, one of which could represent a rotating plasma vortex near a magnetic null point.

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Geoffrey Compère, Samuel E. Gralla, Alexandru Lupsasca. 2016-06-21. Force-Free Foliations. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevd.94.124012

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