Multiconstrained variational problems in magnetohydrodynamics: Equilibrium and slow evolution (Q1802288)

A computational method is proposed for solving magnetohydrodynamical equilibrium problems with prescribed flux and mass within the magnetic surfaces that foliate the plasma. The classical variational principles, which express these problems in terms of energy minimization subject to infinite families of nonlinear, nonlocal constraints, are taken as the basis for a direct method of solution. A natural discretization of the classical constraint families is devised, and an iterative algorithm is developed to solve the resulting optimization problems. A convergence theory for the algorithm is established, and an effective numerical implementation of the method is presented for flux-conserving tokamak equilibria.