KHU MHD Handout
KHU MHD Handout
KHU MHD Handout
Magnetohydrodynamics (MHD)
Lecturer: Professor Valery Nakariakov, [email protected]
MHD describes large scale, slow dynamics of plasmas. More specifically, we can apply MHD when
In MHD, the plasma is considered as an electrically conducting fluid. Governing equations are equations
of fluid dynamics and Maxwell’s equations. A self-consistent set of MHD equations connects the plasma
mass density ρ, the plasma velocity V, the thermodynamic (also called gas or kinetic) pressure P and the
magnetic field B. In strict derivation of MHD, one should neglect the motion of electrons and consider
only heavy ions.
also called the Euler equation. The vector j is the electric current density which can be expressed through
the magnetic field B. Mind that on the lefthand side it is the total derivative, d/dt.
The 3-rd equation is the energy equation, which in the simplest adiabatic case has the form
d P
= 0, (3)
dt ργ
where γ is the ratio of specific heats Cp /CV , and is normally taken as 5/3.
The temperature T of the plasma can be determined from the density ρ and the thermodynamic pressure
p, using the state equation (e.g. the ideal gas law). For example, in a pure hydrogen plasma, this equation
is
kB
P =2 ρT, (4)
mp
where mp is the mass of a proton and kB is Boltzmann’s constant.
Now, let us derive the equation for the magnetic field using Maxwell’s equations. Start with Ohm’s law,
j = σE0 , (5)
where σ is electrical conductivity (the physical quantity inverse to the resistivity) and E0 is the electric
field experienced by the plasma (fluid) element in its rest frame. When the plasma is moving (with
respect to the external magnetic field) at the velocity V, applying the Lorentz transformation we obtain
E0 = E + V × B. (6)
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E = −V × B. (8)
Calculating the curl of the electric field E and using one of Maxwell’s equation,
∂B
∇×E=− , (9)
∂t
we can exclude the electric field and obtain
∂B
= ∇ × (V × B), (10)
∂t
which is the 4-th MHD equation — the “induction equation”. In particular, this equation describes the
phenomenon of magnetic dynamo.
To close the set of MHD equations, we have to express the current density j through the magnetic field
B. Consider the other Maxwell’s equation,
1 ∂E
∇×B− = µ0 j (11)
c2 ∂t
From Ohm’s law, we had E = −V × B. Consequently, we can estimate the electric field as E ∼ V0 B,
where V0 is a characteristic speed of the process. Consider the ratio of two terms in Eq. (11):
1 ∂E
∇ × B and .
c2 ∂t
The first term is proportional to B/l0 , where l0 is a characteristic scale of the process, the second to
E/c2 t0 , where t0 is a characteristic time of the process, V0 = l0 /t0 . When the process is not relativistic,
V0 c, the first term is very much greater than the second, and we have
1
j= ∇×B (12)
µ0
In addition, the magnetic field B must satisfy the condition ∇.B = 0.
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∂ρ
+ ∇(ρV) = 0, Mass Continuity Eq.,
∂t
d P
= 0, Energy Eq.,
dt ργ
dV 1
ρ = −∇P − B × (∇ × B), Euler’s Eq.,
dt µ0
∂B
= ∇ × (V × B), Induction Eq..
∂t
The equations are ideal, which means that all dissipative processes (finite viscosity, electrical resistivity
and thermal conductivity) were neglected.
∇ · B = 0. (13)
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The Nobel Prize in Physics 1970 was given to Hannes Olof Gösta Alfvén “for fundamental work and
discoveries in magnetohydrodynamics with fruitful applications in different parts of plasma physics”.
MHD is applicable from nanometre (10−9 m) scales in, e.g. physics of semi-conductors, to galactic
(1021 m) scales, e.g. galactic arms.
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For the typical conditions of the lower corona, lii ≈ 105 − 106 m.
4. Similar estimations should be made for the spatial scales, and the conditions of applicability are
well satisfied too.
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MHD Equilibrium