Magnetic dipole equilibrium solution at finite plasma pressure

A realistic equilibrium with finite plasma pressure is derived for a plasma confined by the magnetic field of a point dipole. The low and high pressur e forms of the solution are explicitly displayed. The energy principle is u sed to demonstrate the interchange stability of the equilibrium solution fo r arbitrary pressures and shows that it remains stable as the plasma pressu re increases. [S0031-9007(99)08794-3].