Medical Definition of Rational surface
1.
Magnetic flux surface where the ratio of toroidal to poloidal field strengths is a rational number, this means that a particle travelling along this surface makes an integer number of turns in each direction and then its orbit closes in on itself.
The result is that the particle does not sample the entire flux surface in its motion, which is important for various technical reasons (which mostly result in reduced confinement).
See: magnetic island.
(09 Oct 1997)
Lexicographical Neighbors of Rational Surface
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