Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2003 / iii / Paper 65 / 1 / i / Solution

Write horizontal components with a subscript $h$. The steady ideal magnetohydrodynamic induction equation gives $\nabla \times (\mathbf{u}\times \mathbf{B})=0$. Since ${\partial }_z=0$, its horizontal components implyThus $(\mathbf{u}\times \mathbf{B}{)}_z=C$ is a spatial constant. A vanishing axial electric field, $E_z=-C=0$, is needed to infer horizontal alignment. It is satisfied, for example, if the constant electric field vanishes at a boundary or at infinity. With this additional condition and ${\mathbf{B}}_h\ne 0$, define the magnetohydrodynamic mass loading $k$ by $\rho {\mathbf{u}}_h=k{\mathbf{B}}_h$, and put $U=u_z-k{B}_z/\rho$. ThenThe steady continuity equation and the solenoidal magnetic-field constraint giveAlso $\mathbf{u}\times \mathbf{B}=U{\mathbf{e}}_z\times \mathbf{B}$. Using the vector identity for the curl of a cross product, together with ${\partial }_z\mathbf{B}=0$ and $\nabla \cdot \mathbf{B}=0$, its curl is ${\mathbf{e}}_z\mathbf{B}\cdot \nabla U$. HenceThese are steady planar ideal-MHD field-line invariants: both quantities are constant along a magnetic field line.

The zero-electric-field condition does not follow from the printed stationarity assumptions alone. Constant $\rho ,p,s$, $\Phi =0$, $\mathbf{u}=u_0{\mathbf{e}}_x$ and $\mathbf{B}=B_0{\mathbf{e}}_y$, with $u_0{B}_0\ne 0$, satisfy every displayed ideal magnetohydrodynamics equation but have perpendicular horizontal velocity and magnetic field. Their $C=u_0{B}_0$ is nonzero, so no $k,U$ give the stated decomposition. The field-line decomposition is valid on the $E_z=0$ branch; as an unrestricted implication, the first claim has this counterexample. The subsequent calculations use that branch.