Flux-Vortex Structure in Type-II Superconductors Carrying a Longitudinal Current

Phys. Rev. B Vol. 49, p. 450 (1994) (PDF)

For values of r greater than the coherence length, the axially symmetric Ginzburg-Landau equations are solved for a flux vortex carrying a longitudinal current. The field is not force-free, and it is shown that there are no regular solutions to the force-free field equations that decay exponentially with increasing penetration into a superconductor. It is also shown, in this approximation, that in the case of a vortex carrying a non-zero longitudinal current, the Ginzburg-Landau equations are equivalent to the radial pressure-balance equilibrium relation in ideal magneto-hydrodynamics. The techniques developed in this field to address stability issues can then be used to answer questions related to vortex stability.

Nuclear Testing and the 1992 Moratorium

Distributed by the Strategy and Policy Division (N51) of the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations.

This report continues to have relevance in today’s world. Among other issues, it discusses the “robustness” of existing nuclear weapons. There is also an appendix on the seismic verification of underground nuclear explosions.

(PDF)

Reliable Replacement Warhead (RRW) Correspondence: Nature 462, 158 (12 November 2009).

(Nature 12Nov09-Warheads)

Helicity, Topology, and Force-Free Magnetic Fields

Phys. Rev. E Vol. 47, p. 3607 (1993) (PDF)

Concepts from topology are increasingly finding utility in magnetohydrodynamics. This paper gives an example of how the connectivity of the domain and the gauge freedom of the vector potential can play an important role in computing the helicity of twisted magnetic fields used in several areas of astrophysics, particularly solar physics. By computing the relative helicity of a simple magnetic field configuration used to model solar prominences, it is shown that helicity can have a non-local character. This necessitates a reexamination of its conventional physical interpretation. The magnetic energy is also discussed.

Axially Symmetric Solutions to the Force-Free Magnetic Field Equations in Spherical and Cylindrical Coordinates

Phys. Rev. A Vol. 45, p. 7520 (1992) (PDF)

The force-free magnetic field condition is expressed in terms of a flux function; alpha is then also a function of the flux function, and with suitable restrictions the resulting equations can be separated and solved. The case of spherical coordinates yields four sets of solutions which are shown to be dependent and equivalent to a simple generalization of those given by Chandrasekhar [Proc. Natl. Acad Sci. USA Vol. 42, 1 (1956)]. Similarly, the case of cylindrical coordinates results in a generalization of the solution given by Furth, et al. [Rev. Sci. Instrum. Vol. 28, 949 (1957)].

Self-Dual Gauge-Field Equations from a Differential Form Point of View

The utility of differential forms for understanding the origin of the self-dual gauge-field equations is illustrated by deriving the systems of linear partial differential equations introduced by Belavin and Zakharov and used in a different form by Ueno and Nakamura. The integrability condition for these systems of equations is then used to show their relation to a generalized form of the Ernst equation.

Physics Essays 3, 406-413 (1990)

Self-Dual Gauge Field Eqs

A Class of Cylindrically Symmetric Solutions to the Force-Free Magnetic Field Equations with Non-Constant Alpha

J. Appl. Phys. Vol. 68, p. 3818 (1990) (PDF)

The general approach to cylindrically symmetric force-free magnetic fields first introduced by Lust and Schluter [Z. Astrophys. Vol. 34, 263 (1954)], is restricted to cylindrically symmetric fields, and subsequently used to determine a set of solutions to the force-free field equations with non-constant alpha. The first element of the set is the well known constant a solution of Lundquist [Ark. Fys. Vol. 2, 361 (1951)]. These solutions may have practical applications with respect to high-temperature superconductors.

A Simplified Anti-Submarine Warfare Problem Treated as a Steady-State Markov Process

Applied Physics Communications Vol 8, p. 227 (1988)
Coauthor: Robert Piacesi
[A shortened version of this article also appeared in Physics & Society (January 1989)]

Markov processes represent a powerful method for quantifying questions related to the survivability of strategic nuclear forces. This paper gives an elementary introduction to Markow processes and chains followed by a simple anti-submarine warfare example in which the scenario of a surveillance-surge attack is treated as a steady state Markov process.

(MS Word Document)

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