English

An analytic formula for surface currents generating prescribed plasma equilibrium fields

Plasma Physics 2026-04-27 v2 Mathematical Physics Analysis of PDEs math.MP

Abstract

Given a plasma domain PR3P\subset\mathbb{R}^3, a plasma equilibrium field BB on PP and a coil winding surface Σ\Sigma surrounding PP, we provide an analytic formula whose output is a surface current distribution jj on Σ\Sigma such that BS(j)+BS(curl(B))=B\operatorname{BS}(j)+\operatorname{BS}(\operatorname{curl}(B))=B in PP, i.e. the combination of the plasma current magnetic field and the surface current magnetic field exactly produce the full plasma equilibrium field. We use this new formula to provide a theoretical explanation of the empirical phenomenon that currents tend to attain their maximal strength at points which correspond to points of highest normal magnetic curvature on the plasma boundary. Some discussions regarding aspects of numerical approximations are also included.

Cite

@article{arxiv.2604.20713,
  title  = {An analytic formula for surface currents generating prescribed plasma equilibrium fields},
  author = {Wadim Gerner},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2604.20713},
  year   = {2026}
}
R2 v1 2026-07-01T12:30:43.306Z