Energy principle with global invariants
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 idea 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:
- Univ. of Texas, Austin, TX (United States). Institute for Fusion Studies; Princeton Plasma Physics Lab. (PPPL), Princeton, NJ (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- FG05-80ET53088; AM02-76CH03073
- OSTI ID:
- 6388927
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/ET/53088-19; TRN: 81-010172
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Energy principle with global invariants for toroidal plasmas
Energy principle with global invariants
Related Subjects
PLASMA
TEARING INSTABILITY
VARIATIONAL METHODS
CURRENT DENSITY
RELAXATION
TOKAMAK DEVICES
TOROIDAL CONFIGURATION
ANNULAR SPACE
CLOSED PLASMA DEVICES
CONFIGURATION
INSTABILITY
PLASMA INSTABILITY
PLASMA MACROINSTABILITIES
SPACE
THERMONUCLEAR DEVICES
700105* - Fusion Energy- Plasma Research- Plasma Kinetics-Theoretical- (-1987)
700107 - Fusion Energy- Plasma Research- Instabilities