Study of internal transport barrier triggering mechanism in tokamak plasmas
- Southwestern Institute of Physics, P.O. Box 432, Chengdu (China)
Sheared flow layers driven by magnetic energy, released in tearing-reconnection processes inherent in dissipative magnetohydrodynamics, are proposed as a triggering mechanism for the creation of the internal transport barrier (ITB) in tokamak plasmas. The double tearing mode, mediated by anomalous electron viscosity in configurations with a nonmonotonic safety factor, is investigated as an example. Particular emphasis is placed on the formation of sheared poloidal flow layers in the vicinity of the magnetic islands. A quasilinear simulation demonstrates that the sheared flows induced by the mode have desirable characteristics (lying just outside the magnetic islands), and sufficient levels required for ITB formation. A possible explanation is also proffered for the experimental observation that the transport barriers are preferentially formed in the proximity of low-order rational surfaces.
- OSTI ID:
- 20643946
- Journal Information:
- Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 11, Issue 12; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.1808750; (c) 2004 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1070-664X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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