Magnetic flux ropes, fundamental magnetohydrodynamic structures, often form braided helical configurations with net axial current, as observed in astrophysical and laboratory plasmas. However, an equilibrium model for such structures has remained elusive. We present a first-principles derivation of the braided flux ropes equilibrium by capturing the force balance of current-carrying plasma strands. This equilibrium reproduces the observed structure of the double helix nebula and provides a powerful tool for studying magnetic self-organization, plasma confinement, and astrophysical dynamics.

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• Plasma stability
• Astrophysical jets
• Magnetized plasma
• Solar plasma
• Magnetohydrodynamic techniques