Anisotropic Axisymmetric MHD Equilibria in Spheroidal Coordinates

When subjected to a strong magnetic field, plasmas can exhibit anisotropy in the directions parallel and perpendicular to the field. The magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) equilibrium equation under the hypothesis of Chew, Goldberger, and Low of an anisotropic pressure tensor is solved analytically, using a previously known solution of the isotropic case in oblate spheroidal coordinates. The effects of the anisotropy on the magnetic fields and on the current density are investigated, and the radial profiles of the pressures along and across the magnetic field are studied.