Observation of Plasma Rotation Driven by Static Nonaxisymmetric Magnetic Fields in a Tokamak

Journal Article · Fri Nov 07 04:00:00 EST 2008 · Physical Review Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVLETT.101.195005· OSTI ID:21179898

Garofalo, A M; Burrell, K H; DeBoo, J C; DeGrassie, J S; Jackson, G L; Schaffer, M J; Strait, E J ^[1]; Lanctot, M; Reimerdes, H ^[2]; Solomon, W M ^[3]

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1. General Atomics, P.O. Box 85608, San Diego, California 92186-5608 (United States)
2. Columbia University, 2960 Broadway, New York, New York 10027-1754 (United States)
3. Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, P.O. Box 451, Princeton, New Jersey 08543-0451 (United States)

We present the first evidence for the existence of a neoclassical toroidal rotation driven in a direction counter to the plasma current by nonaxisymmetric, nonresonant magnetic fields. At high beta and with large injected neutral beam momentum, the nonresonant field torque slows down the plasma toward the neoclassical 'offset' rotation rate. With small injected neutral beam momentum, the toroidal rotation is accelerated toward the offset rotation, with resulting improvement in the global energy confinement time. The observed magnitude, direction, and radial profile of the offset rotation are consistent with neoclassical theory predictions [A. J. Cole et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 99, 065001 (2007)].

• OSTI ID: 21179898
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters, Journal Name: Physical Review Letters Journal Issue: 19 Vol. 101; ISSN 0031-9007; ISSN PRLTAO
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
CONFINEMENT TIME
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
HIGH-BETA PLASMA
MAGNETIC FIELDS
NEOCLASSICAL TRANSPORT THEORY
ROTATION
TOKAMAK DEVICES