Improved evolution equations for magnetic island chains in toroidal pinch plasmas subject to externally applied resonant magnetic perturbations

An improved set of island evolution equations is derived that incorporates the latest advances in MHD (magnetohydrodynamical) theory. These equations describe the resistive/viscous-MHD dynamics of a nonlinear magnetic island chain, embedded in a toroidal pinch plasma, in the presence of a programmable, externally applied, resonant magnetic perturbation. A number of interesting example calculations are performed using the new equations. In particular, an investigation is made of a recently discovered class of multiharmonic resonant magnetic perturbations that have the novel property that they can lock resonant island chains in a stabilizing phase.