Nonlinear evolution of the resistive interchange mode in the cylindrical spheromak

Technical Report · Wed Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 1984

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5230007· OSTI ID:5230007

DeLucia, J; Jardin, S C

Results are presented of a study of various aspects of the single helicity nonlinear development of the resistive interchange mode in the cylindrical spheromak. A formulation of the helically symmetric resistive MHD equations that partially separates the ideal MHD characteristics is developed. Mode saturation can occur due to the quasilinear flattening of the pressure profile in the vicinity of the mode rational surface. However, this saturation process is defeated when the plasma overheats and in regions of the plasma where the shear is low. Finite fluid compression has significant, and optimistic, consequences on the long-term nonlinear behavior of this mode. For a tearing mode stable cylindrical spheromak equilibrium configuration with an axial beta value of 6%, complete overlap of the m = 1 islands occurs in about 3% of the resistive skin time for a magnetic Reynold's number of S = 10/sup 5/. For typical parameters of the S-1 device at Princeton, this time corresponds to nearly one-millisecond.

• Research Organization: Princeton Plasma Physics Lab. (PPPL), Princeton, NJ (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-76CH03073
• OSTI ID: 5230007
• Report Number(s): PPPL-2086; ON: DE84007457
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
FLUTE INSTABILITY
SPHEROMAK DEVICES
CYLINDRICAL CONFIGURATION
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
NONLINEAR PROBLEMS
SKIN EFFECT
CLOSED PLASMA DEVICES
CONFIGURATION
FLUID MECHANICS
HYDRODYNAMICS
INSTABILITY
MECHANICS
PLASMA INSTABILITY
PLASMA MACROINSTABILITIES
THERMONUCLEAR DEVICES
TOKAMAK DEVICES
700107* - Fusion Energy- Plasma Research- Instabilities