Particle simulations of ion rings for magnetic fusion

Thesis/Dissertation · Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI ID:6058121

Lyster, P M

This thesis contains a numerical study of the dynamics of axis encircling charged particles in ion rings and layers. Part of this work deals with the coalescence of ion rings to form field reversed rings, which may be useful for Compact Torus magnetic fusion reactors. The coalescence of weak ion rings with Compact Toroids is also investigated. This is important because a component of energetic particles may help to maintain the flux or stabilize these configurations against a number of macroscopic magnetohydrodynamic instabilities. Several different types of particle codes are used. RINGA and CIDER are two and one half-dimensional codes in cylindrical axisymmetric geometry. A theoretical and computational study is made of a mechanism by which ring translational energy is transferred to Alfven waves in a conductive plasma. A new collective phenomenon is discussed whereby the merging of rings is improved if they have stronger initial self fields. A study is made of the coalescence of strong field-reversed ion rings in highly conductive plasmas, in which it is found that magnetic field line reconnection is an important process. Finally, a study of the magnetic compression of ion layers in conductive plasmas is presented.

• Research Organization: Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6058121
• Resource Relation: Other Information: Thesis (Ph. D.)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
COMPACT TORUS
ION RINGS
PARTICLE MOBILITY
SIMULATION
COMPUTER CODES
LAYERS
MAGNETIC COMPRESSION
PLASMA INSTABILITY
CLOSED PLASMA DEVICES
COMPRESSION
INSTABILITY
MOBILITY
THERMONUCLEAR DEVICES
TORI
700101* - Fusion Energy- Plasma Research- Confinement
Heating
& Production
700107 - Fusion Energy- Plasma Research- Instabilities