General Taylor configuration expansion revisited

The validity of a series expansion proposed previously [T. H. Jensen and M. S. Chu, Phys. Fluids 27, 2881 (1984)] for describing general Taylor config urations of magnetized plasmas has been reexamined because an apparent para dox was realized. From analyses of simple cases which can be dealt with mos tly analytically, it is concluded that the paradox is a Gibbs phenomenon, a nd that the series expansion is valid. (C) 1999 American Institute of Physi cs. [S1070-664X(99)02005-4].