Magnetic relaxation
= Magnetic relaxation
Magnetic relaxation converts <magnetic energy> into material motion through the <Lorentz force density>, and dissipates the resulting <kinetic energy> through <viscosity>. In a <perfect conductor>, <magnetic flux freezing> preserves field-line connectivity throughout every smooth stage. A regular limiting state has zero <velocity> and is a <magnetostatic equilibrium>, but its <magnetic field> can contain <current sheets>. Conservation of one global <magnetic helicity> is weaker than preservation of the complete frozen field-line structure.