Plasma equilibrium in a magnetic field with stochastic regions

Journal Article · Wed Jul 15 04:00:00 EDT 2009 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3159607· OSTI ID:21277302

Krommes, John A; Reiman, Allan H ^[1]

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1. Plasma Physics Laboratory, Princeton University, P.O. Box 451, Princeton, New Jersey 08543-0451 (United States)

The nature of plasma equilibrium in a magnetic field with stochastic regions is examined. It is shown that the magnetic differential equation that determines the equilibrium Pfirsch-Schlueter currents can be cast in a form similar to various nonlinear equations for a turbulent plasma, allowing application of the mathematical methods of statistical turbulence theory. An analytically tractable model, previously studied in the context of resonance-broadening theory, is applied with particular attention paid to the periodicity constraints required in toroidal configurations. It is shown that even a very weak radial diffusion of the magnetic field lines can have a significant effect on the equilibrium in the neighborhood of the rational surfaces, strongly modifying the near-resonant Pfirsch-Schlueter currents. Implications for the numerical calculation of three-dimensional equilibria are discussed.

• OSTI ID: 21277302
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 7 Vol. 16; ISSN PHPAEN; ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
DIFFUSION
EQUILIBRIUM
MAGNETIC FIELDS
PLASMA
STOCHASTIC PROCESSES
TOROIDAL CONFIGURATION
TURBULENCE