Magnetic Double Helix
Abstract
Magnetic flux ropes, fundamental magnetohydrodynamic structures, often form braided helical configurations with net axial current, as observed in astrophysical and laboratory plasmas. However, an equilibrium model for such structures has remained elusive. We present a first-principles derivation of the braided flux ropes equilibrium by capturing the force balance of current-carrying plasma strands. This equilibrium reproduces the observed structure of the double helix nebula and provides a powerful tool for studying magnetic self-organization, plasma confinement, and astrophysical dynamics.
Copyright and License
© 2025 American Physical Society.
Acknowledgement
This material is based upon work supported by NSF Award No. 2105492.
Data Availability
The data and code that support the findings of this Letter are openly available: Y. Zhang, Data and Code for manuscript titled “Magnetic Double Helix.” Physical Review Letters (2025)10.5281/zenodo.15860220.
Supplemental Material
This document provides additional information on the magnetic field calculation for the double-helix current wire system, the curl of the magnetic force, stability analysis, return currents, and more complex cases.
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Additional details
Funding
- National Science Foundation
- 2105492
Dates
- Available
-
2025-07-30Published online