skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Gyrokinetic simulation of internal kink modes

Abstract

Internal disruption in a tokamak has been simulated using a three-dimensional magneto-inductive gyrokinetic particle code. The code operates in both the standard gyrokinetic mode (total-{ital f} code) and the fully nonlinear characteristic mode ({delta}{ital f} code). The latter is a quiet low noise algorithm. The computational model represents a straight tokamak with periodic boundary conditions in the toroidal direction and a square cross section with perfectly conducting walls in the poloidal direction. The linear mode structure of an unstable {ital m}=1 (poloidal) and {ital n}=1 (toroidal) kinetic internal kink mode is clearly observed, especially in the {delta}{ital f} code. The width of the current layer around the {ital x}-point, where magnetic reconnection occurs, is found to be close to the collisionless electron skin depth, indicating the importance of electron inertia. Both codes give very similar nonlinear results, in which full reconnection in the Alfven time scale is observed along with the electrostatic potential structures created during this phase. The resulting {ital E}{times}{ital B} drift from the potential dominates the nonlinear phase after the full reconnection. {copyright} {ital 1995} {ital American} {ital Institute} {ital of} {ital Physics}.

Authors:
;  [1];  [2];  [3]
  1. Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Yamaguchi University, Tokiwadai 2557, Ube 755 (Japan)
  2. Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, Princeton University, P. O. Box 451, Princeton, New Jersey 08543 (United States)
  3. Department of Physics, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90024 (United States)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Princeton Plasma Physics Lab. (PPPL), Princeton, NJ (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
124766
DOE Contract Number:  
AC02-76CH03073
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Physics of Plasmas
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 2; Journal Issue: 11; Other Information: PBD: Nov 1995
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION; KINK INSTABILITY; PLASMA SIMULATION; KINETIC EQUATIONS; MAGNETIC RECONNECTION; TOKAMAK DEVICES

Citation Formats

Naitou, H, Tsuda, K, Lee, W W, and Sydora, R D. Gyrokinetic simulation of internal kink modes. United States: N. p., 1995. Web. doi:10.1063/1.871051.
Naitou, H, Tsuda, K, Lee, W W, & Sydora, R D. Gyrokinetic simulation of internal kink modes. United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.871051
Naitou, H, Tsuda, K, Lee, W W, and Sydora, R D. 1995. "Gyrokinetic simulation of internal kink modes". United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.871051.
@article{osti_124766,
title = {Gyrokinetic simulation of internal kink modes},
author = {Naitou, H and Tsuda, K and Lee, W W and Sydora, R D},
abstractNote = {Internal disruption in a tokamak has been simulated using a three-dimensional magneto-inductive gyrokinetic particle code. The code operates in both the standard gyrokinetic mode (total-{ital f} code) and the fully nonlinear characteristic mode ({delta}{ital f} code). The latter is a quiet low noise algorithm. The computational model represents a straight tokamak with periodic boundary conditions in the toroidal direction and a square cross section with perfectly conducting walls in the poloidal direction. The linear mode structure of an unstable {ital m}=1 (poloidal) and {ital n}=1 (toroidal) kinetic internal kink mode is clearly observed, especially in the {delta}{ital f} code. The width of the current layer around the {ital x}-point, where magnetic reconnection occurs, is found to be close to the collisionless electron skin depth, indicating the importance of electron inertia. Both codes give very similar nonlinear results, in which full reconnection in the Alfven time scale is observed along with the electrostatic potential structures created during this phase. The resulting {ital E}{times}{ital B} drift from the potential dominates the nonlinear phase after the full reconnection. {copyright} {ital 1995} {ital American} {ital Institute} {ital of} {ital Physics}.},
doi = {10.1063/1.871051},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/124766}, journal = {Physics of Plasmas},
number = 11,
volume = 2,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed Nov 01 00:00:00 EST 1995},
month = {Wed Nov 01 00:00:00 EST 1995}
}