Plasma torque and nonambipolar transport

Poloidal symmetry breaking in toroidal plasmas causes a damping of poloidal rotation and toroidal symmetry breaking a damping of toroidal rotation. These torques are transmitted by the magnetic field to the outside world. An upper limit exists on the torque that can be transmitted by magnetic asymmetries. This limit is enforced by shielding asymmetries from the plasma, which can be an important effect for toroidal asymmetries. The torque interaction of plasmas with magnetic fields can be either through an anisotropic pressure or by the drive for magnetic islands. The physics of both types of interactions are considered and paradoxical effects are clarified.