Spheromaks: A Practical Application of Magnetohydrodynamic Dynamos and Plasma Self-Organization (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9781860941412)

Spheromaks are easily formed, self-organized magnetized plasma configurations that have intrigued plasma physicists for over two decades. Sometimes called magnetic vortices, magnetic smoke rings, or plasmoids, spheromaks first attracted attention as a possible controlled thermonuclear plasma confinement scheme, but are now known to have many other applications.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.

Author: Paul M. Bellan
ISBN-10: 1860941419
ISBN-13: 9781860941412
Publisher: Imperial College Press
Language: English
Published: 01/24/2000
Pages: 356
Format: Hardcover
Weight: 1.39lbs
Size: 8.76h x 6.10w x 1.03d

Review Citation(s):
Scitech Book News 12/01/2000 pg. 51