Ion heating during reconnection in the Madison Symmetric Torus reversed field pinch
- Center for Magnetic Self-Organization in Laboratory and Astrophysical Plasmas, Princeton, New Jersey 08542 (United States)
Measurements of localized ion heating during magnetic reconnection in the Madison Symmetric Torus reversed field pinch [R. N. Dexter, D. W. Kerst, T. W. Lovell, S. C. Prager, and J. C. Sprott, Fusion Technol. 19, 131 (1991)] are presented using two beam-based diagnostics: Charge exchange recombination spectroscopy and Rutherford scattering. Data have been collected from three types of impulsive reconnection event, in which the resistive tearing mode activity associated with reconnection is present either in the edge plasma, the core plasma, or throughout the plasma volume. A drop in the stored magnetic energy is required for ion heating to be observed during magnetic reconnection, and when this occurs, heating is concentrated in regions where reconnection is taking place. The magnitude of the observed temperature rise during reconnection varies with ion species, suggesting that the heating mechanism has a mass and/or charge dependence. Both the magnitude and spatial structure of the observed temperature rise also depend on the plasma current and density. Nonetheless, the fraction of released magnetic energy converted to ion thermal energy remains roughly constant over a range of plasma conditions.
- OSTI ID:
- 21120376
- Journal Information:
- Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 15, Issue 5; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.2884038; (c) 2008 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1070-664X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Emission intensities and line ratios from a fast neutral helium beam
Modifications to the edge current profile with auxiliary edge current drive and improved confinement in a reversed-field pinch