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Use a steady axisymmetric flow governed by ideal magnetohydrodynamics and take the Newtonian gravitational potential to be axisymmetric. Work locally on connected regular magnetic flux surfaces with nonzero poloidal flow. As usual for a wind without an imposed toroidal loop voltage, $E_{\varphi }=0$; regularity on an included rotation axis guarantees this condition. It is needed to exclude steady cross-field flow in an annular domain.

Since $\nabla \varphi ={\mathbf{e}}_{\varphi }/R$, the poloidal magnetic flux function givesThe poloidal magnetic field is divergence-free. The zero toroidal electric field, with $\mathbf{E}=-\mathbf{u}\times \mathbf{B}$, gives ${\mathbf{u}}_p\parallel {\mathbf{B}}_p$. Define $k$ by $\rho {\mathbf{u}}_p=k{\mathbf{B}}_p$. Steady mass conservation then givesThus $k=k(\psi )$ is the magnetohydrodynamic mass loading, the mass flux per unit poloidal magnetic flux. Subtracting $(k/\rho )\mathbf{B}$ from the full velocity leaves only an azimuthal component. The cross product isThe steady ideal magnetohydrodynamic induction equation requires $0=\nabla \times (\omega \nabla \psi )=\nabla \omega \times \nabla \psi$. Consequently the field-line angular velocity is $\omega =\omega (\psi )$ and

Neither gas pressure nor axisymmetric gravity exerts an azimuthal torque. Multiplying the azimuthal momentum equation by $R$ combines the cylindrical curvature terms into angular-momentum transport:Insert $\rho {\mathbf{u}}_p=k{\mathbf{B}}_p$ and use ${\mathbf{B}}_p\cdot \nabla k=0$. It follows thatso the magnetohydrodynamic angular-momentum invariant isThe two terms account respectively for matter and Maxwell stress tensor transport of angular momentum.

Finally, subtracting $\gamma$ times the logarithmic mass density equation from the logarithmic pressure equation gives $D\ln (p/{\rho }^{\gamma })/Dt=0$. The specific entropy of a fixed-composition ideal gas is a function of $p/{\rho }^{\gamma }$. Steadiness and axisymmetry reduce its advection to ${\mathbf{u}}_p\cdot \nabla s=0$. HenceThese flux-label functions are local on connected regular surfaces; disconnected components with the same numerical label need not share constants without an additional matching condition.

On one poloidal flux surface, the field-line angular velocity $\omega (\psi )$ is constant. In a frame rotating at that rate the relative velocity is $\mathbf{v}=\mathbf{u}-R\omega {\mathbf{e}}_{\varphi }=k\mathbf{B}/\rho$, parallel to the magnetic field. The Lorentz force is perpendicular to this motion, and the Coriolis force also does no work. Centrifugal acceleration comes from the effective potential $-R^2{\omega }^2/2$. Since entropy is constant along the surface, pressure work integrates to specific enthalpy $w$, with $dw=dp/\rho$ along the flow.

Therefore kinetic energy relative to the rotating poloidal flux surface, enthalpy and effective gravitational-plus-centrifugal potential have a constant sum:This is a corotating energy integral, not the laboratory energy alone: Maxwell stress tensor stresses can transfer energy and angular momentum in the laboratory frame. In fact the expression equals $|\mathbf{u}{|}^2/2+w+\Phi -\omega R{u}_{\varphi }$, namely the total magnetohydrodynamic Bernoulli invariant minus $\omega \ell$. Differential rotation between surfaces does not invalidate the argument, because the chosen angular velocity is fixed along the particular surface being followed.

Use the aligned poloidal flow from part (i), and define the magnetohydrodynamic mass loading $\eta =\rho \alpha$, so $\rho {\mathbf{u}}_p=\eta {\mathbf{B}}_p$. Axisymmetric mass conservation and $\nabla \cdot {\mathbf{B}}_p=0$ give ${\mathbf{B}}_p\cdot \nabla \eta =0$. Introduce the poloidal magnetic flux function $\Psi$ by ${\mathbf{B}}_p=R^{-1}\nabla \Psi \times {\mathbf{e}}_{\varphi }$, and write $u_{\varphi }=R\Omega$. ThenThe steady induction equation says the curl of this expression is zero. Hence $\nabla {\Omega }_F\times \nabla \Psi =0$, wherethe field-line angular velocity ${\Omega }_F$ is constant on each connected magnetic surface and along its field lines.

To control the difference between matter rotation and field-line rotation, use the azimuthal component of the ideal magnetohydrodynamic momentum equation. The inertial and magnetic terms are respectively $\rho R^{-1}{\mathbf{u}}_p\cdot \nabla (R{u}_{\varphi })$ and $({\mu }_{0}R{)}^{-1}{\mathbf{B}}_p\cdot \nabla (R{B}_{\varphi })$; pressure and gravity have no azimuthal derivative. Multiplying by $R$ and using constant mass loading givesThus the magnetohydrodynamic angular-momentum invariant $L=R^2\Omega -R{B}_{\varphi }/({\mu }_0\eta )$ is constant along the line when $\eta \ne 0$. Let $v_{Ap}=|{\mathbf{B}}_p|/\sqrt{{\mu }_0\rho }$ and define $M_{Ap}^2=|{\mathbf{u}}_p{|}^2/v_{Ap}^2={\mu }_0{\eta }^2/\rho$. Eliminating $B_{\varphi }$ between the two invariants givesFor a highly sub-Alfvénic poloidal flow, $M_{Ap}^2\ll 1$, this is $\Omega \simeq {\Omega }_F$ along a nonsingular field-line segment. This proves sub-Alfvénic isorotation in a steady axisymmetric wind, with the correction explicitly displayed. If the poloidal flow is exactly zero, the induction equation directly gives ${\mathbf{B}}_p\cdot \nabla \Omega =0$, namely Ferraro's law of isorotation. The approximate claim presumes regular invariants: small $M_{Ap}$ alone is not a uniform relative bound if $L/R^2$ is allowed to become arbitrarily large.

For local cold magnetocentrifugal acceleration, the field must guide the gas and enforce approximate corotation with its disk footpoint in the sub-Alfvénic launching region. Let that footpoint be $R=R_f$, and keep its field-line angular velocity ${\Omega }_f=\Omega (R_f)$ constant along the field. In this rotating frame the relevant effective potential isThe footpoint is a critical point because ${\partial }_R\Phi (R_f,0)=R_f{\Omega }_f^2$ and ${\partial }_z\Phi (R_f,0)=0$. The meridional Hessian matrix there isTake distance $\ell$ along a smooth outward magnetic field line whose initial tangent is $(\sin \alpha ,\cos \alpha )$ in the $(R,z)$ plane. Since the gradient of $V$ vanishes at the footpoint, field-line curvature does not contribute to its second derivative. ConsequentlyA negative quadratic coefficient gives a downhill displacement and acceleration without thermal assistance. The magnetocentrifugal launching criterion in a flattened power-law potential is thereforeAngles are measured from the vertical, with $0\le \alpha <\pi /2$. Below the critical angle the footpoint is a local minimum along the field, so a cold particle cannot cross the initial potential barrier. At equality the quadratic test is marginal; higher derivatives and the unspecified field curvature can decide the outcome. The threshold is a local condition for launch, not proof that the wind escapes along an arbitrary global field geometry. The spherical point-mass limit $\lambda =1$, $\beta \to 1$ recovers ${\alpha }_{\mathrm{crit}}=30^{\circ }$, consistent with Ogilvie's discussion of cold disk winds, section 9.9.

The divergence-free poloidal field can be represented by the poloidal magnetic flux functionIn a steady axisymmetric ideal magnetohydrodynamics flow, the azimuthal component of $\nabla \times (\mathbf{u}\times \mathbf{B})=0$ makes ${\mathbf{u}}_p$ parallel to ${\mathbf{B}}_p$. WriteMass conservation and $\nabla \cdot \mathbf{B}=0$ then imply $\mathbf{B}\cdot \nabla k=0$, so the magnetohydrodynamic mass loading $k=k(\psi )$ is constant along each magnetic line.

The poloidal part of $\mathbf{u}\times \mathbf{B}$ isIts curl vanishes only if its coefficient is a flux function, giving the field-line angular velocityThe azimuthal component of momentum conservation is a divergence of matter and magnetic angular-momentum flux. Dividing its field-line constant by the mass loading yields the magnetohydrodynamic angular-momentum invariantThe conservative total-energy equation similarly gives the magnetohydrodynamic Bernoulli invariantFinally, the entropy advection equation and ${\mathbf{u}}_p\parallel {\mathbf{B}}_p$ imply $s=s(\psi )$. Thus $k,\omega ,\ell ,ϵ$, and $s$ are constant along each magnetic field line.

The flux-function form solves $\nabla \cdot \mathbf{B}=0$ identically. With $k=k(\psi )$, the poloidal relation $\rho {\mathbf{u}}_p=k{\mathbf{B}}_p$ and axisymmetry solve steady mass conservation. The ideal induction equation is solved by the velocity representation with the field-line angular velocity $\omega =\omega (\psi )$. The azimuthal momentum equation integrates once to the magnetohydrodynamic angular-momentum invariant $\ell =\ell (\psi )$.

What remains is the pressure or entropy equation and the two poloidal components of momentum. Projecting poloidal momentum along a field line produces the Bernoulli invariant in part (c); projecting across magnetic surfaces produces the transfield or Grad-Shafranov equation that determines their shape. An equation of state and boundary conditions complete the problem. The stellar gravitational potential is prescribed, so no self-gravity Poisson equation remains to solve.

Ideal flux freezing anchors a field line in the highly conducting disc, so its field-line angular velocity naturally equals the angular velocity of its footpoint. A circular orbit in the central potential is Keplerian:

Put $r=r_0+\delta r$ and expandThe linear radial term vanishes because $GM/r_0^2={\Omega }_0^2{r}_0$. The radial and vertical second derivatives are respectively $-3{\Omega }_0^2$ and ${\Omega }_0^2$, so

If the field line makes angle $\theta$ from the vertical, then locally $\delta r=z\tan \theta$. Its quadratic potential change iswhich is negative exactly whenThis is the local magnetocentrifugal acceleration launching criterion.

Assume zero toroidal loop voltage in smooth steady ideal magnetohydrodynamics, so the poloidal flow aligns with the poloidal magnetic field. Write $\rho {\mathbf{u}}_p=\eta {\mathbf{B}}_p$. The continuity equation makes $\eta$ constant along a magnetic line. The induction equation gives the conserved field-line angular velocity ${\Omega }_F=\Omega -\eta B_{\varphi }/(\rho R)$. The azimuthal momentum equation is $\rho {\mathbf{u}}_p\cdot \nabla (R^2\Omega )={\mathbf{B}}_p\cdot \nabla (R{B}_{\varphi })/{\mu }_0$; hence $L=R^2\Omega -R{B}_{\varphi }/({\mu }_0\eta )$ is also constant along the line.

With $M_{Ap}^2={\mu }_0{\eta }^2/\rho =|{\mathbf{u}}_p{|}^2/v_{Ap}^2$, eliminating $B_{\varphi }$ givesFor $M_{Ap}^2\ll 1$ and nonsingular invariants, $\Omega ={\Omega }_F+O(M_{Ap}^2)$ and matter approximately corotates along a field line. With exactly zero poloidal flow, induction directly gives Ferraro's law of isorotation. The approximation requires the correction $M_{Ap}^2({\Omega }_F-L/R^2)$ to be small on the segment in question.