Nonlinear evolution of the alpha-particle-driven toroidicity-induced Alfven eigenmode

Journal Article · Fri Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1995 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.871013· OSTI ID:135444

Wu, Y; White, R B; Chen, Y ^[1]; Rosenbluth, M N ^[2]

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1. Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, P.O. Box 451, Princeton, New Jersey 08543 (United States)
2. Department of Physics, University of California, San Diego, California 92121 (United States)

A fast and efficient numerical algorithm using energy conservation is developed to study the interaction of high-energy particles with a toroidicity-induced Alfven eigenmode (TAE). A Hamiltonian guiding center code is used to simulate the alpha particle motion and a nonlinear {delta}{ital f} scheme is employed to calculate the wave-particle energy exchange. The code is benchmarked using the bump-on-tail problem and simulation results agree with analytical estimates. For a single TAE mode, the particle radial excursion is much less than the spacing between the resonances produced by the poloidal harmonics for International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor parameters. Resonant particles that lose their energy to the wave can become trapped poloidally, but transfer to a loss orbit through this mechanism does not occur. Modification of the particle distribution leading to mode saturation is observed. {copyright} {ital 1995} {ital American} {ital Institute} {ital of} {ital Physics}.

• Research Organization: Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-76CH03073
• OSTI ID: 135444
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 12 Vol. 2; ISSN PHPAEN; ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
ALFVEN WAVES
ALPHA PARTICLES
BUMP-IN-TAIL INSTABILITY
ENERGY CONSERVATION
GUIDING-CENTER APPROXIMATION
ITER TOKAMAK
THERMONUCLEAR DEVICES
TOKAMAK DEVICES