Symmetry breaking and self-consistent rotation of magnetic islands in neoclassical viscous regimes

Journal Article · Tue Sep 15 00:00:00 EDT 2009 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3216546· OSTI ID:21282106

Lazzaro, E ^[1]

---

1. Istituto di Fisica del Plasma 'P. Caldirola', Associazione Euratom-ENEA-CNR, 20125 Milano (Italy)

Classical or neoclassical tearing modes (NTMs) perturb the ideal axisymmetry of tokamaks. As a consequence of symmetry breaking a neoclassical toroidal viscosity (NTV) appears, that depends on the island amplitude. This work shows that in the low collisionality regimes NTV has a key role in determining self-consistently the magnetic island velocity and at the same time modifies significantly the ion polarization current effects on NTM instability. This finding can provide a better understanding of the mechanism of onset of NTMs, observed experimentally, and improve the concepts for their control or avoidance.

• OSTI ID: 21282106
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 16, Issue 9; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.3216546; (c) 2009 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
IONS
MAGNETIC ISLANDS
POLARIZATION
ROTATION
SYMMETRY BREAKING
TEARING INSTABILITY
TOKAMAK DEVICES
VELOCITY
VISCOSITY