Resonant field amplification near the RWM stability boundary in a tokamak

Evolution of a resistive wall mode (RWM)—a magnetic field perturbation produced by a plasma and partially stabilized by a conducting wall—is considered. It is assumed that there is a small resonant harmonic in the spectrum of the static error field. It is shown that the effect of this harmonic on the dynamics of stable RWMs increases as the plasma approaches the RWM stability boundary. The error field is “amplified” during the transition through this boundary. The smaller the rotation velocity of the perturbation and the longer the time during which the plasma stays near the stability boundary, the stronger this amplification is.     

Measurement of the resistive-wall-mode stability in a rotating plasma using active MHD spectroscopy

The stability of the resistive-wall mode (RWM) in DIII-D plasmas above the conventional pressure limit, where toroidal plasma rotation in the order of a few percent of the Alfve n velocity is sufficient to stabilize the n=1 RWM, has been probed using the technique of active MHD spectroscopy at frequencies of a few Hertz. The measured frequency spectrum of the plasma response to externally applied rotating resonant magnetic fields is well described by a single-mode approach and provides an absolute measurement of the damping rate and the natural mode rotation frequency of the stable RWM.     

Reduced critical rotation for resistive-wall mode stabilization in a near-axisymmetric configuration

Recent DIII-D experiments with reduced neutral beam torque and minimum nonaxisymmetric perturbations of the magnetic field show a significant reduction of the toroidal plasma rotation required for the stabilization of the resistive-wall mode (RWM) below the threshold values observed in experiments that apply nonaxisymmetric magnetic fields to slow the plasma rotation. A toroidal rotation frequency of less than 10 krad/s at the q=2 surface (measured with charge exchange recombination spectroscopy using C VI) corresponding to 0.3% of the inverse of the toroidal Alfvén time is sufficient to sustain the plasma pressure above the ideal MHD no-wall stability limit. The low-rotation threshold is found to be consistent with predictions by a kinetic model of RWM damping.     

Model for the Error Field Effect on Resistive Wall Modes

A semianalytic multimode model that includes the instantaneous influence of a static error field on the resistive wall mode (RWM) is presented. The asymptotic behavior of the RWM as the marginal stability is approached, including the influence of the error field, is discussed. The influence of neighboring modes on the central harmonic modes is explored, allowing a less destabilizing error field spectrum to be proposed. The model has been applied to a plasma surrounded by a HBT‐EP tokamak type feedback system. (© 2013 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Identification of a low plasma-rotation threshold for stabilization of the resistive-wall mode

The plasma rotation necessary for stabilization of resistive-wall modes (RWMs) is investigated by controlling the toroidal plasma rotation with external momentum input by injection of tangential neutral beams. The observed threshold is 0.3% of the Alfvén velocity and much smaller than the previous experimental results obtained with magnetic braking. This low critical rotation has a very weak beta dependence as the ideal wall limit is approached. These results indicate that for large plasmas such as in future fusion reactors with low rotation, the requirement of the additional feedback control system for stabilizing RWM is much reduced.     

ITER装置中等离子体旋转和反馈控制对电阻壁模影响的数值研究

在托卡马克等离子体中,电阻壁模是非常重要的磁流体不稳定性,特征时间在毫秒量级.对长时间稳态运行下的先进托卡马克,电阻壁模限制着聚变装置的运行参数空间(放电时间和比压),影响经济效益,所以研究电阻壁模稳定性至关重要.本文使用MARS程序,针对ITER装置上9 MA先进运行平衡位形,研究了等离子体旋转和反馈控制对电阻壁模的...     

平衡电流位形对电阻壁模稳定性影响的数值模拟

数值研究平衡电流位形对电阻壁模式稳定性的影响.研究发现,对于不同的电流位形,当等离子体边缘处安全因子一定时,最不稳定的电阻壁模的环向模数和极向模数相同.在同一壁位置下,非均匀电流位形驱动的电阻壁模的线性增长率比均匀电流位驱动的电阻壁模的线性增长率大.等离子体速度流在不同的初始电流位形下对电阻壁模稳定性的影响不同.由于磁力线在壁上的挤压,经过线性演化后,电阻壁模进入非线性演化并达到饱和状态,非均匀电流位形下的扰动磁能比均匀电流位形下的扰动磁能饱和度低.     

Numerical study of physical properties of resistive wall modes in tokamaks

The effect of plasma with toroidal rotation on the resistive wall modes in tokamaks is studied numerically. An eigenvalue method is adopted to calculate the growth rate of the modes for changing plasma resistivity and plasma density distribution, as well as the diffusion time of magnetic field through the resistive wall. It is found that the resistive wall mode can be suppressed by the toroidal rotation of the plasma. Also, the growth rate of the resistive wall mode decreases when the edge plasma density is the same as the core plasma density, but it only changes slightly with the plasma resistivity.     

Hybrid helicity and magneto-vorticity flux conservation in superdense npe-plasma

In this paper, it is shown that the magnetic helicity dissipation per unit volume, coupled with the longitudinal conductivity, causes enhancement of the kinematic rotation of the electric (and magnetic) lines if the npe-plasma vorticity vector aligns with the electric (or the magnetic) field. In the case of a rigidly rotating npe-plasma under the influence of a strong magnetic field, the electric lines are rotating faster than the magnetic lines. It is deduced that the orthogonality of the electric and magnetic fields is an essential condition for the conduction current to remain finite in the limit of infinite electric conductivity of the npe-plasma. In this case, the magnetic field is not frozen into the npe-plasma, but the magnetic flux in the magnetic tube is conserved. The hybrid helicity is conserved if the “magneto-vorticity” vector is tangent to the level surfaces of constant entropy per baryon. The “magneto-vorticity” lines are rotating on the level surfaces of constant entropy per baryon due to the electromagnetic energy flow in the direction of the npe-plasma vorticity and the chemical potential variation locked with the kinematic rotation of the npe-plasma flow lines. In the case of an isentropic npe-plasma flow, there exists a family of timelike 2-surfaces spanned by the “magneto-vorticity” lines and the npe-plasma flow lines. In this case, the electric field is normal to such a family of timelike 2-surfaces. Maxwell like equations satisfied by “magneto-vorticity” bivector field are solved in axially symmetric stationary case. It is shown that the npe-plasma is in differential rotation in such a way that its each plasma shell (i.e., plasma surface spanned by “magneto-vorticity” lines) is rotating differentially without continually winding up “magneto-vorticity” lines frozen into the npe-plasma. It is also found that gravitational isorotation and Ferraro’s law of isorotation are intimately connected to each other because of coexistence of both the plasma vorticity and the magnetic field due to interaction between the electromagnetic field and npe-plasma flows.     

Effects of three-dimensional electromagnetic structures on resistive-wall-mode stability of reversed field pinches

In this Letter, the linear stability of the resistive wall modes (RWMs) in toroidal geometry for a reversed field pinch (RFP) plasma is studied. Three computational models are used: the cylindrical code ETAW, the toroidal MHD code MARS-F, and the CarMa code, able to take fully into account the effects of a three-dimensional conducting structure which mimics the real shell geometry of a reversed field pinch experimental device. The computed mode growth rates generally agree with experimental data. The toroidal effects and the three-dimensional features of the shell, like gaps, allow a novel interpretation of the RWM spectrum in RFP's and remove its degeneracy. This shows the importance of making accurate modeling of conductors for the RWM predictions also in future devices such as ITER.     

Skin effect modifications of the Resistive Wall Mode dynamics in tokamaks

We present the first evidence of the skin-effect modification of the Resistive Wall Mode (RWM) dynamics in a tokamak. The computations are performed with the CarMa code, using its unique ability of treating volumetric 3D conducting structures. The results prove that conventional thin-wall models and codes, assuming the thin equivalent wall located on the inner side of a real (thick) wall, may fail to get accurate estimates of RWM growth rates, since the inclusion of the skin effect makes the growth rates always larger than otherwise. The difference is noticeable even for the conventional slow RWMs and becomes substantial for faster modes. Some possible equivalent thin-wall modeling approaches are also discussed.     

Antiproton cloud compression in the ALPHA apparatus at CERN

We have observed a new mechanism for compression of a non-neutral plasma, where antiprotons embedded in an electron plasma are compressed by a rotating wall drive at a frequency close to the sum of the axial bounce and rotation frequencies. The radius of the antiproton cloud is reduced by up to a factor of 20 and the smallest radius measured is ～ 0.2 mm. When the rotating wall drive is applied to either a pure electron or pure antiproton plasma, no compression is observed in the frequency range of interest. The frequency range over which compression is evident is compared to the sum of the antiproton bounce frequency and the system’s rotation frequency. It is suggested that bounce resonant transport is a likely explanation for the compression of antiproton clouds in this regime.     

剪切磁场位形下电阻壁模不稳定性的数值模拟

数值研究了平衡磁场位形对电阻壁模稳定性的影响。研究发现,磁场剪切对电阻壁模有解稳作用,对于不同的剪切磁场位形,最不稳定的电阻壁模的环向模数和极向模数不同。等离子流对电阻壁模的增长有抑制作用,稳定住电阻壁模的临界流速度随着磁场剪切率的增大而增大。电阻壁模经线性增长后,进入非线性演化阶段,最后达到饱和状态,剪切磁场位形下的扰动磁能比均匀磁场位形下的扰动磁能饱和度高。     

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研究了模与模之间的相互作用对电阻壁模(RWM)稳定性的影响.当存在多个模的相互作用时,最不稳定的(3,1)模的线性增长率有所下降.经过线性演化后,因磁力线在壁上的挤压,电阻壁模进入非线性饱和状态.与单个模的演化相比,多个模存在时,(3,1)模的饱和度会下降,(5,2)模的磁能会有相应的增长,而(2,1)模磁能饱和度变化不大.     

Rotation effect on near-wall turbulence statistics and flow structures

Turbulent flow in an axially rotating pipe, involving complicated physical mecha- nism of turbulence, is a typical problem for the study of rotating turbulent flow. The pipe rotation induces two effects on the flow. One is the stabilizing effect due to the centrifu- gal and Coriolis forces, which accounts for the relaminarization of the turbulence[1—3] and the reduction of the friction coefficient at the pipe wall. The behavior is also related to the wall streaks inclining to the azimuthal di…     

Forced magnetic reconnection and field penetration of an externally applied rotating helical magnetic field in the TEXTOR tokamak

The magnetic field penetration process into a magnetized plasma is of basic interest both for plasma physics and astrophysics. In this context special measurements on the field penetration and field amplification are performed by a Hall probe on the dynamic ergodic divertor (DED) on the TEXTOR tokamak and the data are interpreted by a two-fluid plasma model. It is observed that the growth of the forced magnetic reconnection by the rotating DED field is accompanied by a change of the plasma fluid rotation. The differential rotation frequency between the DED field and the plasma plays an important role in the process of the excitation of tearing modes. The momentum input from the rotating DED field to the plasma is interpreted by both a ponderomotive force at the rational surface and a radial electric field modified by an edge ergodization.     

On the origin of rotation in magnetically confined plasmas

The main part of this paper surveys the mechanisms that can lead to rotation of plasma in an electrodeless discharge (commonly called a theta pinch) and in a mirror machine. Eight proposed mechanisms are examined, of which two are found to be incorrect in some way. Another mechanism, in which the reaction is purely electromagnetic, applies only to the tenuous plasma of a mirror machine. The remaining five theories apply to the highly compressed plasma of a theta pinch. These all rely fundamentally on the large difference in mass between an ion and an electron, i.e. either on Hall currents or the correction for finite ion Larmor radius in the stress tensor. The mechanisms which incorporate the Hall effect cause an equal and opposite mechanical reaction either on the wall (Roberts and Taylor), or on external conductors (Haines), or on the plasma at each end of the discharge axis (Bostick). The mechanisms which use the collisionless stress tensor predict either radial division into oppositely rotating plasma (Velikhov) or a transfer of angular momentum to the walls by collisions during the initial stage of physical contact (Haines). This last theory is new and arose as a result of a critical examination of an earlier theory (Jensen and Voorhies).

Experimental evidence for rotation has been confined mainly to high speed photographic techniques, and methods of obtaining a more definite measurement of the rotation and its origin are suggested.

The paper distinguishes carefully between the angular motions associated with the centre of mass, the guiding centres and the diamagnetic current, and also considers the stability of a rotating plasma including the Hall effect and the collisionless stress tensor.     

Spontaneous rotational inversion in Phycomyces

The filamentary fungus Phycomyces blakesleeanus undergoes a series of remarkable transitions during aerial growth. During what is known as the stage IV growth phase, the fungus extends while rotating in a counterclockwise manner when viewed from above (stage IVa) and then, while continuing to grow, spontaneously reverses to a clockwise rotation (stage IVb). This phase lasts for 24-48 h and is sometimes followed by yet another reversal (stage IVc) before the overall growth ends. Here, we propose a continuum mechanical model of this entire process using nonlinear, anisotropic, elasticity and show how helical anisotropy associated with the cell wall structure can induce spontaneous rotation and, under appropriate circumstances, the observed reversal of rotational handedness.     

Compressibility effects on double tearing mode interlocking in differentially rotating plasmas

Effects of compressibility on the double tearing modes (DTMs) in rotating plasmas are numerically investigated by using a compressible magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) model. It is found that due to the compressibility effects, the threshold of the interlocking magnetic island width in the slow and intermediate rotation regimes is larger than the counterpart in the incompressible plasmas. In the fast rotation regime, the compressible effect makes the DTM islands interlock more easily and faster. Moreover, in the very fast rotation regime, the plasma rotation can more effectively suppress the DTM islands. The scalings of the interlocking threshold in the different rotation regimes are obtained. Effects of plasma viscosity and beta on the DTM interlocking in the compressible plasmas are also discussed.     

Dispersion of kinetic Alfvén wave in a rotating plasma with an inhomogeneous magnetic field

The effects of inhomogeneity of a magnetic field on the dispersion of kinetic Alfvén waves (KAWs) in a rotating plasma is investigated under the framework of magnetohydrodynamic theory. The magnetic field should be in a non‐uniform state if the centrifugal force is balanced only by the magnetic pressure. The inhomogeneity of the magnetic field increases the frequency of KAW and drives it into an unstable state. The growth rate of KAW varies non‐monotonously with respect to the distance. The KAW will be excited in a certain region with maximum growth rate. And the growth rate of KAW in the region near and far from the centre of rotation approaches zero. These results will be helpful in understanding the properties of KAWs in rotating astrophysical and laboratory plasmas.