High-beta operation and magnetohydrodynamic activity on the TFTR tokamak

Journal Article · Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1990 · Physics of Fluids. B, Plasma Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.859544· OSTI ID:6799958

McGuire, K.; Arunasalam, V.; Barnes, C. W.; Bell, M. G.; Bitter, M.; Boivin, R.; Bretz, N. L.; Budny, R.; Bush, C. E.; Cavallo, A.; Chu, T. K.; Cohen, S. A.; Colestock, P.; Davis, S. L.; Dimock, D. L.; Dylla, H. F.; Efthimion, P. C.; Ehrhrardt, A. B.; Fonck, R. J.; Fredrickson, E. ; Furth, H. P.; Gammel, G.; Goldston, R. J.; Greene, G.; Grek, B.; Grisham, L. R.; Hammett, G.; Hawryluk, R. J.; Hendel, H. W.; Hill, K. W.; Hinnov, E.; Hoffman, D. J.; Hosea, J.; Howell, R. B.; Hsuan, H.; Hulse, R. A.; Janos, A. C.; Jassby, D.; Jobes, F.; Johnson, D. W.; Johnson, L. C.; Kaita, R.; Kieras-Phillips, C.; Kilpatrick, S. J.; LaMarche, P. H.; LeBlanc, B.; Manos, D. M.; Mansfield, D. K.; Mazzucato, E.; McCarthy, M. P.; McCune, M. C.; McNeill, D. H.; Meade, D. M.; Medley, S. S.; Mikkelsen, D. R.; Monticello, D.; Motley, R.; Mueller, D.; Murphy, J. A.; Nagayama, Y.; Nazakian, D. R.; Neischmidt, E. B.; Owens, D. K.; Park, H.; Park, W.; Pitcher, S.; Ramsey, A. T.; Redi, M. H.; Roquemore, A. L.; Rutherford, P. H.; Schilling, G.; Schivell, J.; Schmidt, G. L.; Scott, S. D.; Sinnis, J. C.; Stevens, J.; Stratton, B. C.; Stodiek, W.; Synakowski, E. J.; Tang, W. M.; Taylor, G.; Timberlake, J. R.; Towner, H. H.; Ulrickson, M.; von Goeler, S.; Wieland, R.; Williams, M.; Wilson, J. R.; Wong, K.-L.; Yamada, M.; Yoshikawa, S.; Young, K. M.; Zarnstorff, M. C.; Zweben, S. J.

Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) activity within three zones (core, half-radius, and edge) of TFTR ( Plasma Physics and Controlled Nuclear Fusion Research 1986 (IAEA, Vienna, 1987), Vol. 1, p. 51) tokamak plasmas are discussed. Near the core of the plasma column, sawteeth are often observed. Two types of sawteeth are studied in detail; one with complete, and the other with incomplete, magnetic reconnection. Their characteristics are determined by the shape of the q profile. Near the half-radius the m/n =3/2 and 2/1 resistive ballooning modes are found to correlate with a beta collapse. The pressure and the pressure gradient at the mode rational surface are found to play an important role in stability. MHD activity is also studied at the plasma edge during limiter H modes. The edge localized modes (ELM's) are found to have a precursor mode with a frequency between 50--500 kHz and a mode number m/n=1/0. The mode does not show a ballooning structure. While these instabilities have been studied on many other machines, on TFTR the studies have been extended to high pressure (plasma pressure greater than 4 x 10⁵ Pa) and low collisionality ( vⁱ_*(a/2) < 0.002, v^e_* ( a/2)< 0.01).

• Research Organization: Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL), Princeton, NJ (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-76CH03073
• OSTI ID: 6799958
• Journal Information: Physics of Fluids. B, Plasma Physics, Vol. 2, Issue 6; ISSN 0899-8221: PFBPEI
• Publisher: American Institute of Physics
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
HIGH-BETA PLASMA
SAWTOOTH OSCILLATIONS
TFTR TOKAMAK
PLASMA CONFINEMENT
BALLOONING INSTABILITY
MAGNETIC RECONNECTION
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
OPERATION
PLASMA PRESSURE
PRESSURE GRADIENTS
CONFINEMENT
FLUID MECHANICS
HYDRODYNAMICS
INSTABILITY
MECHANICS
OSCILLATIONS
PLASMA
PLASMA INSTABILITY
PLASMA MACROINSTABILITIES
THERMONUCLEAR REACTORS
TOKAMAK TYPE REACTORS
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