Kinetic extensions of magnetohydrodynamic models for axisymmetric toroidal plasmas
A nonvariational kinetic-MHD stability code (NOVA-K) has been developed to integrate a set of non-Hermitian integro-differential eigenmode equations due to energetic particles for axisymmetric toroidal plasmas in a general flux coordinate system with an arbitrary Jacobian. The NOVA-K code employs the Galerkin method involving Fourier expansions in the generalized poloidal angle theta and generalized toroidal angle /zeta/ directions, and cubic-B spline finite elements in the radial /Psi/ direction. Extensive comparisons with the existing variational ideal MHD codes show that the ideal MHD version of the NOVA-K code converges faster and gives more accurate results. The NOVA-K code is employed to study the effects of energetic particles on MHD-type modes: the stabilization of ideal MHD internal kink modes and the excitation of ''fishbone'' internal kink modes; and the alpha particle destabilization of toroidicity-induced Alfven eigenmodes (TAE) via transit resonances. Analytical theories are also presented to help explain the NOVA-K results. For energetic trapped particles generated by neutral beam injection (NBI) or ion cyclotron resonant heating (ICRH), a stability window for the n = 1 internal kink mode in the hot particle beta space exists even in the absence of the core ion finite Larmor radius effect. On the other hand, the trapped alpha particles are found to have negligible effects on the stability of the n = 1 internal kink mode, but the circulating alpha particles can strongly destabilize TAE modes via inverse Landau damping associated with the spatial gradient of the alpha particle pressure. 60 refs., 24 figs., 1 tab.
- Research Organization:
- Princeton Plasma Physics Lab. (PPPL), Princeton, NJ (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC02-76CH03073
- OSTI ID:
- 6211798
- Report Number(s):
- PPPL-2604; ON: DE89010270
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
TOROIDAL CONFIGURATION
MHD EQUILIBRIUM
ALFVEN WAVES
ALPHA PARTICLES
AXIAL SYMMETRY
BEAM INJECTION HEATING
DISPERSION RELATIONS
ICR HEATING
ITERATIVE METHODS
KINETIC EQUATIONS
LANDAU DAMPING
N CODES
NUMERICAL SOLUTION
ANNULAR SPACE
CHARGED PARTICLES
CLOSED CONFIGURATIONS
COMPUTER CODES
CONFIGURATION
DAMPING
EQUATIONS
EQUILIBRIUM
HEATING
HIGH-FREQUENCY HEATING
HYDROMAGNETIC WAVES
MAGNETIC FIELD CONFIGURATIONS
PLASMA HEATING
SPACE
SYMMETRY
700103* - Fusion Energy- Plasma Research- Kinetics