Simulation of MHD instabilities with fluid runaway electron model in M3D-C¹

Journal Article · Wed May 27 00:00:00 EDT 2020 · Nuclear Fusion

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1088/1741-4326/ab96f4· OSTI ID:1642436

Zhao, Chen ^[1]; Liu, Chang  ^[1]; Jardin, Stephen C.  ^[1]; Ferraro, N ^[1]

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1. Princeton Plasma Physics Lab. (PPPL), Princeton, NJ (United States)

Runaway electrons are generated in a tokamak during the start up, during normal operation and during a plasma disruption. During a disruption, runaway electrons can be accelerated to high energies, potentially damaging the first wall. To predict the consequences of runaway generation during a disruption, it is necessary to consider resonant interactions of runaways with the bulk plasma. Here we consider the interactions of runaways on low mode number tearing modes. We have developed a fluid runaway electron model for the 3D MHD code M3D-C1[Jardin,et al. J Comput. Sci Discovery 6 014002 (2012)]. To benchmark, we have reproduced the MHD linear tearing mode results (with runaway electrons) in a circular cylinder presented in previous analytic studies[[Helander, P., et al, Phys. Plasmas 14 144102 (2007)] and extended here with a numerical eigenvalue calculation. Furthermore, we find that the low mode number tearing mode has a rotation caused by the MHD - runaways interaction, and the toroidal current scale length is much smaller with runaways than that for without and decreases as the runaway speed increases.

• Research Organization: Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL), Princeton, NJ (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• Grant/Contract Number: AC02-09CH11466
• OSTI ID: 1642436
• Alternate ID(s): OSTI ID: 1690314
• Journal Information: Nuclear Fusion, Journal Name: Nuclear Fusion; ISSN 0029-5515
• Publisher: IOP Science
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY