Radial discontinuities in tokamak magnetohydrodynamic equilibria with poloidal flow

Journal Article · Thu Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 2000 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.874083· OSTI ID:20216541

Betti, R ^[1]; Freidberg, J P ^[2]

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1. Laboratory for Laser Energetics, and Departments of Mechanical Engineering, and Physics and Astronomy, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14623 (United States)
2. Department of Nuclear Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139 (United States)

It is shown that transonic poloidal flow leads to ideal magnetohydrodynamic tokamak equilibria with radial discontinuities in the density, pressure, and flow velocity profiles. Transonic profiles are defined as having flow velocities ranging from subsonic to supersonic with respect to the poloidal sound speed (c{sub s}B{sub p}/B). The jump of the equilibrium quantities occurs approximately at the sonic surface and its magnitude is of order {epsilon}{sup 1/2} ({epsilon} is the inverse aspect ratio). Because of the large velocity shear at the sonic surface, transonic profiles may improve energy confinement as suggested by current understanding of tokamak plasma turbulence suppression. (c) 2000 American Institute of Physics.

• OSTI ID: 20216541
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 6 Vol. 7; ISSN PHPAEN; ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
PLASMA CONFINEMENT
PLASMA DENSITY
SUPERSONIC FLOW
THEORETICAL DATA
TOKAMAK DEVICES
TURBULENCE
TURBULENT FLOW