{beta} limit disruptions in the Tokamak Fusion Test Reactor
- Plasma Physics Laboratory, Princeton University, P.O. Box 451, Princeton, New Jersey 08540 (United States)
A disruptive {beta} limit ({beta}=plasma pressure/magnetic pressure) is observed in high-performance plasmas in the Tokamak Fusion Test Reactor (TFTR) [K. M. McGuire {ital et} {ital al}., Plasma Phys. Controlled Nuclear Fusion {bold 1}, 421 (1987)]. The magnetohydrodynamic character of these disruptions differs substantially from the disruptions in high-density plasmas (density limit disruptions) on TFTR. The high {beta} disruptions can occur with less than a millisecond warning in the form of a fast growing precursor. The precursor appears to be an {ital n}=1 kink strongly coupled through finite {beta} effects and toroidal terms to higher {ital m} components. It does not have the ``cold bubble`` structure found in density limit disruptions. The {ital n}=1 kink, in turn, appears to excite a ballooning-type mode that may contribute to the thermal quench. {copyright} {ital 1995} {ital American} {ital Institute} {ital of} {ital Physics}.
- Research Organization:
- Princeton Plasma Physics Lab. (PPPL), Princeton, NJ (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC02-76CH03073
- OSTI ID:
- 124764
- Journal Information:
- Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 2, Issue 11; Other Information: PBD: Nov 1995
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Phenomenology of major and minor disruptions in high {beta} deuterium and tritium tokamak fusion test reactor plasma
Beta and current limits in the Doublet III tokamak