Tearing relaxation and the globalization of transport in field-reversed configurations

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

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3223847· OSTI ID:21282107

Steinhauer, Loren ^[1]; Barnes, D C ^[2]

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1. Redmond Plasma Physics Laboratory, University of Washington, Redmond, Washington 98052 (United States)
2. Coronado Consulting, 146 Bishop Lamy Rd., Lamy, New Mexico 87540 (United States)

Tearing instability of field-reversed configurations (FRC) is investigated using the method of neighboring equilibria. It is shown that the conducting wall position in experiment lies very close to the location needed for tearing stability. This strongly suggests that vigorous but benign tearing modes, acting globally, are the engine of continual self-organization in FRCs, i.e., tearing relaxation. It also explains the ''profile consistency'' and anomalous loss rate of magnetic flux. In effect, tearing globalizes the effect of edge-driven transport.

• OSTI ID: 21282107
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 16, Issue 9; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.3223847; (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
MAGNETIC FLUX
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
PLASMA
REVERSE-FIELD PINCH
TEARING INSTABILITY