Negative Specific Heat of a Magnetically Self-Confined Plasma Torus

It is shown that the thermodynamic maximum entropy principle predicts negative specific heat for a stationary magnetically self-confined current-carrying plasma torus. Implications for the magnetic self-confinement of fusion plasma are considered.Comment: 10p., LaTeX, 2 eps figure file

Integrals of motion and the shape of the attractor for the Lorenz model

In this paper, we consider three-dimensional dynamical systems, as for example the Lorenz model. For these systems, we introduce a method for obtaining families of two-dimensional surfaces such that trajectories cross each surface of the family in the same direction. For obtaining these surfaces, we are guided by the integrals of motion that exist for particular values of the parameters of the system. Nonetheless families of surfaces are obtained for arbitrary values of these parameters. Only a bounded region of the phase space is not filled by these surfaces. The global attractor of the system must be contained in this region. In this way, we obtain information on the shape and location of the global attractor. These results are more restrictive than similar bounds that have been recently found by the method of Lyapunov functions.Comment: 17 pages,12 figures. PACS numbers : 05.45.+b / 02.30.Hq Accepted for publication in Physics Letters A. e-mails : [email protected] & [email protected]

An approximate self-consistent theory of the magnetic field of fluted penumbrae

A self-consistent mathematical description of the magnetic field of fluted sunspot penumbrae is presented. This description is based on an expansion of the nonlinear force-free magnetohydrostatic equations written in cylindrical coordinates. The lowest order solutions are mathematically equivalent to laminated force-free equilibria in Cartesian geometry. The lowest order solutions have no toroidal component of the magnetic field and the magnetic pressure does not vary with azimuth but the solutions allow arbitrary variations of the magnetic field components with azimuth. Explicit solutions are presented which have a realistic radial profile of the magnetic field strength and reproduce the basic features of the observations.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures, accepted for publication in Astronomy and Astrophysic

2D stationary resistive MHD flows: borderline to magnetic reconnection solutions

We present the basic equations for stationary, incompressible resistive MHD flows in two dimensions. This leads to a system of differential equations for two flux functions, one elliptic partial differential equation (Grad-Shafranov-like) for the magnetic flux function and one for the stream function of the flow. In these equations two potentials appear: one potential is a generalized pressure. The second potential couples the magnetic and the flow shear components of the system. With the restriction to flux or at least line conserving flows one has to solve a modified Ohm's law. For the two dimensional case these are two coupled differential equations, which represent the borderline between the resistive but flux conserving (or line conserving) case, and that of reconnective solutions. We discuss some simplified solutions of these equations.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures, Advances in Space Research (in press

Arbitrarily large families of spaces of the same volume

In any connected non-compact semi-simple Lie group without factors locally isomorphic to SL_2(R), there can be only finitely many lattices (up to isomorphism) of a given covolume. We show that there exist arbitrarily large families of pairwise non-isomorphic arithmetic lattices of the same covolume. We construct these lattices with the help of Bruhat-Tits theory, using Prasad's volume formula to control their covolumes.Comment: 9 pages. Syntax corrected; one reference adde

On higher congruences between cusp forms and Eisenstein series

In this paper we present several finite families of congruences between cusp forms and Eisenstein series of higher weights at powers of prime ideals. We formulate a conjecture which describes properties of the prime ideals and their relation to the weights. We check the validity of the conjecture on several numerical examples.Comment: 20 page

Representations of integers by certain positive definite binary quadratic forms

We prove part of a conjecture of Borwein and Choi concerning an estimate on the square of the number of solutions to n=x^2+Ny^2 for a squarefree integer N.Comment: 8 pages, submitte

Reconnection at the Heliopause

In this MHD-model of the heliosphere, we assume a Parker-type flow, and a Parker-type spiral magnetic field, which is extrapolated further downstream from the termination shock to the heliopause. We raise the question whether the heliopause nose region may be leaky with respect to fields and plasmas due to nonideal plasma dynamics, implying a breakdown of the magnetic barrier. We analyse some simple scenarios to find reconnection rates and circumstances, under which the heliosphere can be an "open" or a "closed" magnetosphere. We do not pretend to offer a complete solution for the heliosphere, on the basis of nonideal MHD theory, but present a prescription to find such a solution on the basis of potential fields including the knowledge of neutral points. As an example we imitate the Parker spiral as a monopole with a superposition of homogeneous asymptotical boundary conditions. We use this toy model for x < -R where R = 100 AU is the distance of the termination shock to describe the situation in the nose region of the heliopause.Comment: 12 pages, 3 figures, Advances in Space Research (in press