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Updated: May 25, 2026

Magnetically Induced Rotating Rayleigh-Taylor Instability
Published on: March 3, 2017
Bifurcation to 3D helical magnetic equilibrium in an axisymmetric toroidal device
W F Bergerson1, F Auriemma, B E Chapman
1Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA.
Abstract:
We report the first direct measurement of the internal magnetic field structure associated with a 3D helical equilibrium generated spontaneously in the core of an axisymmetric toroidal plasma containment device. Magnetohydrodynamic equilibrium bifurcation occurs in a reversed-field pinch when the innermost resonant magnetic perturbation grows to a large amplitude, reaching up to 8% of the mean field strength. Magnetic topology evolution is determined by measuring the Faraday effect, revealing that, as the perturbation grows, toroidal symmetry is broken and a helical equilibrium is established.
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