Current problems in ball lightning science

Abstract

An analytical expression for the eigenvalue of the global m = 1 kink mode in a straight screw pinch with arbitrary profiles of current density and axial magnetic field is derived in a long wavelength approximation of the incompressible ideal MHD equations. While the influence of the current profile is related to the inductance t t of the plasma column, as has been shown previously (Nucl. Fusion 24 (