A minimally constrained model of self-organized helical states in reversed-field pinches

Abstract

We show that the self-organized single-helical-axis (SHAx) and double-helical-axis (DAx) states in reversed field pinches can be reproduced in a minimally constrained equilibrium model using only five parameters. This is a significant reduction on previous representations of the SHAx which have required an infinite number of constraints. The DAx state, which has a non-trivial topology, has not been previously reproduced using an equilibrium model that preserves this topological structure. We show that both states are a consequence of transport barrier formation in the plasma core, in agreement with experimental results.