Exact solutions for equilibrium configurations of the surface of a conducting fluid in a nonuniform magnetic field

Abstract

We study the two-dimensional magnetic shaping problem for the situation where the free surface of a perfectly conducting fluid is deformed by the magnetic field of a system of linear current-carrying conductors. Equilibrium is achieved due to the balance of capillary and magnetic pressures. We obtain exact solutions of the problem using conformal map techniques. These solutions describe a system of two-dimensional dimples that appear on the initially flat surface of a liquid conductor under the action of a nonuniform magnetic field. We consider the case of two symmetrically located dimples in detail.