Generalised vortex rings with and without swirl

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Abstract
Steady solutions of the Euler equations for flow of an inviscid incompressible fluid may be obtained by considering the process of magnetic relaxation to analogous magnetostatic equilibria in a viscous perfectly conducting fluid. In particular, solutions which represent rotational disturbances propagating without change of structure in an unbounded fluid may be obtained by this method. When conditions are axisymmetric, these disturbances are vortex rings of general structure, which may include a swirl component of velocity. This situation is analysed in some detail, and it is shown that the vortex is characterised by two functions: V(ψ), the volume within toroidal surfaces ψ = cst. and W(ψ), the toroidal volume flux inside the torus ψ = cst. For each choice of {V(ψ), W(ψ)}, satisfying appropriate limit conditions, there exists at least one vortex ring of steady structure.