Inverse solution of Maxwell’s equations in plasmas

Abstract

Maxwell’s equations, which govern the magnetic, current density, and electric field vector distributions throughout a plasma have been formulated and solved in an inverse manner. The methodology allows the geometrical configuration of those components which bound the plasma to be determined in physical space, given the magnitude of the relevant field vectors on their surfaces (boundaries of the computation region in a transformed plane). To accommodate the required mathematical structure of the analysis, a uniform plasma flow at low magnetic Reynolds number is considered in which ion slip and electron pressure/temperature gradient diffusion effects are negligible.