Abstract :
The present understanding of magnetic insulation is reviewed. For stationary flows in constant impedance regions, the single particle description, laminar flow theory, quasi-aminar flow, and flows with arbitrary momenta are presented. Then, nonstationary flows and their laminar flow approximations, the minimum energy operating point, and some questions on their stability are discussed. Equivalent circuit simulations, particle in cell simulations, and two-dimensional time-dependent formulation of flows with arbitrary momenta are then presented. Finally, the concept of transitions, their laminar flow analysis, and some guidelines on their implementation are introduced. Throughout the paper, the approximations in each description, its merits, and its drawbacks are discussed.
