Magnetohydrodynamic stability of hot-electron stabilized tandem mirrors

Journal Article · Wed Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1987 · Phys. Fluids; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.866149· OSTI ID:6489137

Dobrott, D; Kendrick, S; Freis, R P; Cohen, B I

The influence of energetic electron rings, or disks, on the magnetohydrodynamic stability of an axisymmetric tandem mirror configuration is studied. Linear stability equations describing interchange and ballooning modes are solved both analytically and numerically using a two-dimensional stability code for axisymmetric mirrors. Finite-ion-Larmor-radius effects and the presence of a lateral wall are included in the calculations. Stable configurations can be obtained with either sufficiently high hot-electron pressure or with sufficiently high center-cell pressure if a lateral conducting wall is close enough to the plasma. In particular, hot electrons might be used to stabilize transiently the plasma during buildup to a high-beta, wall-stabilized configuration.

• Research Organization: Science Applications International Corporation, La Jolla, California 92037
• OSTI ID: 6489137
• Journal Information: Phys. Fluids; (United States), Vol. 30:7
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
HOT PLASMA
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
STABILITY
TANDEM MIRRORS
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ANALYTICAL SOLUTION
BALLOONING INSTABILITY
ELECTRON RINGS
FLUTE INSTABILITY
HIGH-BETA PLASMA
LARMOR RADIUS
NUMERICAL SOLUTION
PLASMA PRESSURE
TWO-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
FLUID MECHANICS
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