Minimum Dissipative Relaxed States Applied to Laboratory and Space Plasmas

TL;DR

This paper introduces a new plasma relaxation theory based on minimum dissipation rate, better capturing the behavior of laboratory and space plasmas than traditional force-free models.

Contribution

It applies the minimum dissipation rate relaxation theory to laboratory and astrophysical plasmas, explaining observed structures and behaviors.

Findings

Reproduces characteristics of laboratory plasma confinement.

Explains solar arcade structures.

Demonstrates applicability to space plasmas.

Abstract

The usual theory of plasma relaxation, based on the selective decay of magnetic energy over the (global) magnetic helicity, predicts a force-free state for a plasma. Such a force-free state is inadequate to describe most realistic plasma systems occurring in laboratory and space plasmas as it produces a zero pressure gradient and cannot couple magnetic fields with flow. A different theory of relaxation has been proposed by many authors, based on a well-known principle of irreversible thermodynamics, the principle of minimum entropy production rate which is equivalent to the minimum dissipation rate (MDR) of energy. We demonstrate the applicability of minimum dissipative relaxed states to various self-organized systems of magnetically confined plasma in the laboratory and in the astrophysical context. Such relaxed states are shown to produce a number of basic characteristics of laboratory plasma confinement systems and solar arcade structure.