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

Title: Electron inertial effects on rotating magnetic field current drive

Journal Article · · Physics of Plasmas
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2185608· OSTI ID:20782558
; ;  [1]
  1. Centro Atomico Bariloche (CNEA) and Instituto Balseiro - UNC-CNEA, 8400 S. C. de Bariloche, RN (Argentina)

The effect of finite electron mass on the formation and sustainment of a field reversed configuration (FRC) by rotating magnetic fields (RMF) is studied. The importance of inertial effects is measured by the ratio between the RMF frequency ({omega}) and the electron-ion collision frequency ({nu}). In the limit where this ratio is very small ({omega}/{nu}{yields}0), previous results corresponding to massless electrons are recovered. When {omega}/{nu} increases there are significant changes in the value of the minimum external rotating field needed to sustain the FRC and the time required to reach a steady state. Since {nu} decreases with increasing temperature and decreasing density, these effects are expected to become more important as fusion relevant temperatures are approached.

OSTI ID:
20782558
Journal Information:
Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 13, Issue 3; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.2185608; (c) 2006 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1070-664X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English