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Take the equilibrium mass density to be constant and absorb any conservative equilibrium force into the pressure. The linearized ideal magnetohydrodynamic induction equation, using the solenoidal vector field conditions, isFor $\mathbf{B}=Jr{\mathbf{e}}_{\varphi }$, differentiation of the cylindrical basis is important. Acting on a vector whose cylindrical components have azimuthal dependence $e^{im\varphi }$ gives $(\mathbf{B}\cdot \nabla )\mathbf{u}=imJ\mathbf{u}+J{\mathbf{e}}_z\times \mathbf{u}$. Also $(\mathbf{u}\cdot \nabla )\mathbf{B}=J{\mathbf{e}}_z\times \mathbf{u}$. These basis contributions cancel in induction, giving $i\omega \mathbf{b}=imJ\mathbf{u}$.

The perturbation of the Lorentz force isBoth of the first two terms now contribute a basis-rotation term. With $\tilde{p}=p_1/\rho +\mathbf{B}\cdot \mathbf{b}/({\mu }_0\rho )$, the linearized ideal magnetohydrodynamic momentum equation is thereforeThe magnetic part of $\tilde{p}$ is the perturbation of magnetic pressure, not an extra restoring force to retain after projecting out pressure.

Put $D={\omega }^2-m^2{\tilde{J}}^2$, where $\tilde{J}=J/\sqrt{{\mu }_0\rho }$. For $mJ\ne 0$, substitute $\mathbf{u}=\omega \mathbf{b}/(mJ)$ into the momentum equation and multiply by $mJ$. Taking a curl removes the modified pressure. Sincewe obtain the uniform-current toroidal-field curl reductionA second curl, using $\nabla \times \nabla \times \mathbf{b}=-{\nabla }^2\mathbf{b}$, givesThe divided expression assumes $D\ne 0$. If $mkJ\ne 0$, the undivided curl equation shows that $D=0$ would force $\mathbf{b}=0$, so this restriction loses no such magnetic mode. The $k=0$ degenerate limit can instead be taken in the undivided equations; it has no growing branch of the kind considered below. Axisymmetric $m=0$ disturbances are likewise excluded by the velocity elimination, and induction gives no nonzero-frequency magnetic disturbance in this particular equilibrium.

For a vector Laplacian eigenmode with ${\alpha }^2+k^2>0$, elimination givesThus both squared frequencies are real. The lower branch satisfies ${\omega }_{-}^2\ge {\tilde{J}}^2(|m{|}^2-2|m|)$, so it is positive for $|m|>2$. For $|m|=2$ it is positive when $\alpha \ne 0$, but the printed strict-positivity statement needs an endpoint qualification: $|m|=2$, $\alpha =0$ permits a neutral mode unless boundary conditions exclude it.

This is a genuine counterexample to the unqualified endpoint, not merely a loose algebraic bound. The neutral quadrupolar perturbation of a uniform-current toroidal fieldis regular at the axis, is solenoidal, and has $\nabla \times \mathbf{b}=k\mathbf{b}$, hence ${\nabla }^2\mathbf{b}=-k^2\mathbf{b}$. Also ${\mathbf{e}}_z\times \mathbf{b}=-i\mathbf{b}$, so the non-gradient part of the linearized Lorentz force vanishes for $m=2$. The gas-pressure perturbation $p_1=-\mathbf{B}\cdot \mathbf{b}/{\mu }_0$ cancels its magnetic pressure gradient, as required by $\tilde{p}=0$. Taking its real part gives a real disturbance. Decay at radial infinity or an appropriate homogeneous radial boundary condition would exclude it, restoring strict positivity for the allowed eigenmodes; no such condition is printed.

For $|m|=1$ the lower branch is unstable precisely whenAt equality it is marginal. With the time convention $e^{i\omega t}$, the growing member has $\omega =-is$ andThe other branch remains oscillatory. Actual admissibility of a chosen $\alpha$ depends on the radial domain and its boundary conditions.