Abstract
The magnetohydrodynamic stability of plasma confined by helical magnetic fields is considered from two points of view. First by a straightforward normal mode analysis and second by the method of seeking minimum free energy solutions for magnetohydrodynamic equilibrium by applying the principle of least constraint. It is demonstrated that for plasmas of thermonuclear interest the energy extremum must be found subject to the constraints. The latter constraint corresponds to a generalized gauge symmetry that is never violated for plasmas with low viscosity. Its inclusion in the set means that there will be mass flow parallel to the magnetic field. Both the variational calculation and the normal mode analysis predict that the unstable modes of magnetic equilibria are always stabilized by plasma mass flow.
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