Counterexamples to Moffatt's statements on vortex knots.

Abstract

One of the well-known problems of hydrodynamics is studied: the problem of classification of vortex knots for ideal fluid flows. In the literature there are known Moffatt statements that all torus knots K_{m,n} for all rational numbers m/n (0<m/n<∞) are realized as vortex knots for each one of the considered axisymmetric fluid flows. We prove that actually such a uniformity does not exist because it does not correspond to the facts. Namely, we derive a complete classification of all vortex knots realized for the fluid flows studied by Moffatt and demonstrate that the real structure of vortex knots is much more rich because the sets of mutually nonisotopic vortex knots realized for different axisymmetric fluid flows are all different. An exact formula for the limit of the hydrodynamic safety factor q_{h} at a vortex axis is derived for arbitrary axisymmetric fluid equilibria. Another exact formula is obtained for the limit of the magnetohydrodynamics safety factor q at a magnetic axis for the general axisymmetric plasma equilibria.