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Nonlinear {omega}{sub *}-stabilization of the {ital m}=1 mode in tokamaks

Journal Article · · Physics of Plasmas
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.871124· OSTI ID:123610
 [1];  [2]
  1. Institute for Plasma Research, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742-3511 (United States)
  2. Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, P.O. Box 451, Princeton, New Jersey 08543-0451 (United States)
Earlier studies of sawtooth oscillations in Tokamak Fusion Test Reactor (TFTR) supershots [Levinton {ital et} {ital al}., Phys. Rev. Lett. {bold 72}, 2895 (1994); Zakharov {ital et} {ital al}., ``Onset and stabilization of sawtooth oscillations in tokamaks,`` in {ital Plasma} {ital Physics} {ital and} {ital Controlled} {ital Nuclear} {ital Fusion} {ital Research}, Proceedings of the 15th International Conference, Seville, 1994 (International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, in press)] have found an apparent contradiction between conventional linear theory and experiment: even in sawtooth-free discharges, the theory typically predicts instability due to a nearly ideal {ital m}=1 mode. Here, the nonlinear evolution of such mode is analyzed using numerical simulations of a two-fluid magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) model. We find the mode saturates nonlinearly at a small amplitude provided the ion and electron drift-frequencies {omega}{sub *{ital i},{ital e}} are somewhat above the linear stability threshold of the collisionless {ital m}=1 reconnecting mode. The comparison of the simulation results to {ital m}=1 mode activity in TFTR suggests additional, stabilizing effects outside the present model are also important. {copyright} {ital 1995} {ital American} {ital Institute} {ital of} {ital Physics}.
Research Organization:
Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory
DOE Contract Number:
AC02-76CH03073
OSTI ID:
123610
Journal Information:
Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 9 Vol. 2; ISSN PHPAEN; ISSN 1070-664X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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