Particle simulations of current driven drift waves in shearless and sheared magnetic fields

Technical Report · Tue Apr 01 00:00:00 EST 1986

OSTI ID:5955606

Leboeuf, J N; Thayer, D R; Sydora, R D; Diamond, P H

The nonlinear behavior of the collisionless current driven drift instability in shearless and sheared magnetic fields is studied by means of particle simulation. Electrostatic models with guiding center electrons and full dynamic ions are used in both two-and-one-half and three dimensions. The electron current (J/sub parallel), in the direction parallel to the magnetic field but perpendicular to the density gradient in the x direction, is maintained throughout the simulation. Instability thresholds, growth rates, real frequency spectra, and mode structures observed in the simulation are in good agreement with theory. Saturation of the unstable modes occurs by a flattening of the electron distribution function in (x, v/sub parallel/) space. The measured potential saturation levels and final distribution functions are consistent with a quasilinear plateau theory for both shearless and sheared magnetic field configurations.

• Research Organization: Texas Univ., Austin (USA). Inst. for Fusion Studies
• DOE Contract Number: FG05-80ET53088
• OSTI ID: 5955606
• Report Number(s): DOE/ET/53088-232; IFSR-232; ON: DE86009228; TRN: 86-014312
• Resource Relation: Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
DRIFT INSTABILITY
PLASMA SIMULATION
DISTRIBUTION FUNCTIONS
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
GUIDING-CENTER APPROXIMATION
MAGNETIC FIELDS
NONLINEAR PROBLEMS
PLATEAU REGIME
SHEAR
CURRENTS
FUNCTIONS
INSTABILITY
PLASMA INSTABILITY
PLASMA MICROINSTABILITIES
SIMULATION
700107* - Fusion Energy- Plasma Research- Instabilities