Energy principle with global invariants

Journal Article · Sat May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1982 · Phys. Fluids; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.863819· OSTI ID:5572826

Bhattacharjee, A; Dewar, R L

A variational principle is proposed for constructing equilibria with minimum energy in a toroidal plasma. The total energy is minimized subject to global invariants which act as constraints during relaxation of the plasma. These global integrals of motion are preserved exactly for all ideal motions and approximately for a wide class of resistive motions. We assume, specifically, that relaxation of the plasma is dominated by a tearing mode of single helicity. Equilibria with realistic current density and pressure profiles may be constructed in this theory, which is also used here to study current penetration in tokamaks. The second variation of the free energy functional is computed. It is shown that if the second variation of any equilibrium constructed in this theory is positive, the equilibrium satisfies the necessary and sufficient conditions for ideal stability.

• Research Organization: Institute for Fusion Studies, University of Texas, Austin, Texas 78712
• DOE Contract Number: FG05-80ET53088
• OSTI ID: 5572826
• Journal Information: Phys. Fluids; (United States), Vol. 25:5
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
PLASMA CONFINEMENT
VARIATIONAL METHODS
ENERGY
FUNCTIONALS
INTEGRALS
OPTIMIZATION
RELAXATION
TOKAMAK DEVICES
TOROIDAL CONFIGURATION
ANNULAR SPACE
CLOSED PLASMA DEVICES
CONFIGURATION
CONFINEMENT
FUNCTIONS
SPACE
THERMONUCLEAR DEVICES
700101* - Fusion Energy- Plasma Research- Confinement
Heating
& Production