EQUILIBRIUM AND STABILITY FOR THE ARIES COMPACT STELLERATOR REACTOR
Equilibrium and ideal magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) stability studies are reported for Compact Stellarator (ARIES-CS) reactor design equilibria based on a scaled three-period NCSX configuration and a two-period quasi-axisymmetric variant, the MHH2 stellarator. With a stabilizing shell at about twice the minor radius, robustly stable equilibria up to {beta}=6% are achievable. Recent experiments raise questions as to the applicability of linear MHD stability in stellarators since the predicted stability limits appear to be significantly exceeded. A context for interpreting this question, consistent with tokamak experience, is discussed; both the equilibria and nonlinear consequences need to be more carefully considered. Nonlinear stability is analyzed by computing solutions with highly resolved discontinuities to effectively simulate current sheets and islands. This yields {beta} limits in better agreement with measured values.
- Research Organization:
- General Atomics, San Diego, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC03-98ER54411
- OSTI ID:
- 833359
- Report Number(s):
- GA-A24758; TRN: US0701780
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 31ST EUROPEAN CONFERENCE ON PLASMA PHYSICS AND CONTROLLED FUSION, LONDON UNITED KINGDOM, JUNE 28 THROUGH JULY 2, 2004 AND PUBLISHED IN THE PROCEEDINGS
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Physics Design of the National Compact Stellarator Experiment
Simulating the Effects of Stellarator Geometry on Gyrokinetic Drift-Wave Turbulence