The introduction of Clebsch representations allows one to formulate the problem of finding minimum energy solutions for a magneto-fluid as a well-posed problem in the calculus of variations of multiple integrals. When the latter is subjected to integral constraints, the Euler–Lagrange equations of the resulting isoperimetric problem imply that the fluid velocities are collinear with the magnetic field. If, in particular, one constraint is abolished, Alfvén velocities are obtained. In view of the idealized nature of the model treated here, further investigations of more sophisticated structures by means of Clebsch representations are anticipated. Preliminary results of a similar calculation utilizing a modified two fluid model are discusse
