A set of numerical techniques for investigating the full nonlinear unstable behavior of low‐β kink modes of given helical symmetry in tokamaks is presented. Uniform current density plasmas display complicated deformations including the formation of large vacuum bubbles provided that the safety factor q is sufficiently close to integral. Fairly large m=1 deformations, but not bubble formation, persist for a plasma with a parabolic current density profile (and hence shear). Deformations for m⩾2 are, however, greatly suppressed.

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