Extended magnetohydrodynamic simulations of field reversed configuration formation and sustainment with rotating magnetic field current drive

Journal Article · Tue Jun 15 00:00:00 EDT 2010 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3436630· OSTI ID:21378031

Milroy, R D ^[1]; Kim, C C ^[2]; Sovinec, C R ^[3]

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1. Plasma Science and Innovation Center, University of Washington, P.O. Box 32250, Seattle, Washington 98195-2250 (United States); Redmond Plasma Physics Laboratory, University of Washington, 14700 NE 95th St., Suite 100, Redmond, Washington 98052 (United States)
2. Plasma Science and Innovation Center, University of Washington, P.O. Box 32250, Seattle, Washington 98195-2250 (United States)
3. Plasma Science and Innovation Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53706 (United States)

Three-dimensional simulations of field reversed configuration (FRC) formation and sustainment with rotating magnetic field (RMF) current drive have been performed with the NIMROD code [C. R. Sovinec et al., J. Comput. Phys. 195, 355 (2004)]. The Hall term is a zeroth order effect with strong coupling between Fourier components, and recent enhancements to the NIMROD preconditioner allow much larger time steps than was previously possible. Boundary conditions to capture the effects of a finite length RMF antenna have been added, and simulations of FRC formation from a uniform background plasma have been performed with parameters relevant to the translation, confinement, and sustainment-upgrade experiment at the University of Washington [H. Y. Guo, A. L. Hoffman, and R. D. Milroy, Phys. Plasmas 14, 112502 (2007)]. The effects of both even-parity and odd-parity antennas have been investigated, and there is no evidence of a disruptive instability for either antenna type. It has been found that RMF effects extend considerably beyond the ends of the antenna, and that a large n=0 B{sub t}heta can develop in the open-field line region, producing a back torque opposing the RMF.

• OSTI ID: 21378031
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 17, Issue 6; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.3436630; (c) 2010 American Institute of Physics; ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
ANTENNAS
BOUNDARY CONDITIONS
HALL EFFECT
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
PARITY
PLASMA
PLASMA SIMULATION
REVERSE-FIELD PINCH
THREE-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
TOKAMAK DEVICES
CLOSED PLASMA DEVICES
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
FLUID MECHANICS
HYDRODYNAMICS
MECHANICS
PARTICLE PROPERTIES
PINCH EFFECT
SIMULATION
THERMONUCLEAR DEVICES