Neural network differential equation and plasma equilibrium solver.

Abstract

A new generally applicable method to solve differential equations, based on neural networks, is proposed. Straightforward to implement, finite differences and coordinate transformations are not used. The neural network provides a flexible and compact base for representing the solution, found through the global minimization of an error functional. As a proof of principle, a two-dimensional ideal magnetohydrodynamic plasma equilibrium is solved. Since no particular topology is assumed, the technique is especially promising for the three-dimensional plasma equilibrium problem.