Stationary axial plasma equilibrium in light of the magnetic polarization force

TL;DR

This paper extends the standard magnetized plasma equilibrium equation to include magnetic polarization forces, analyzing their effects on plasma profiles and demonstrating consistency with the classical form in the limit of zero magnetization.

Contribution

The paper introduces a modified equilibrium equation incorporating magnetic polarization forces and analyzes its implications for axially symmetric plasma configurations.

Findings

Agreement with standard equilibrium in the zero magnetization limit

Variation in plasma profiles with increasing magnetization

Magnetic polarization force cancels pressure gradient contributions

Abstract

The standard equilibrium equation for magnetized plasma is extended to account for the magnetic polarization force. A factor of the pressure gradient arising from the magnetic decomposition of the Hall term survives the limit of vanishing magnetization and is canceled by a contribution from the magnetic polarization force, such that the proposed equation reduces to the standard form in the free current limit. Comparison of the solutions for an axially symmetric plasma column indicates agreement with the free current limit for vanishing magnetization and variation in the field and current profiles as the degree of magnetization increases.