Energetic consistency and momentum conservation in the gyrokinetic description of tokamak plasmas

Journal Article · Mon Nov 15 04:00:00 EST 2010 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3507920· OSTI ID:21531957

Scott, B; Smirnov, J ^[1]

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1. Max-Planck-Institut fuer Plasmaphysik, Euratom Association, D-85748 Garching (Germany)

Gyrokinetic field theory is addressed in the context of a general Hamiltonian. The background magnetic geometry is static and axisymmetric and all dependence of the Lagrangian on dynamical variables is in the Hamiltonian or in free field terms. Equations for the fields are given by functional derivatives. The symmetry through the Hamiltonian with time and toroidal angle invariance of the geometry lead to energy and toroidal momentum conservation. In various levels of ordering against fluctuation amplitude, energetic consistency is exact. The role of this in the underpinning of conservation laws is emphasized. Local transport equations for the vorticity, toroidal momentum, and energy are derived. In particular, the momentum equation is shown for any form of Hamiltonian to be well behaved and to relax to its magnetohydrodynamic form when long wavelength approximations are taken in the Hamiltonian. Several currently used forms, those which form the basis of most global simulations, are shown to be well defined within the gyrokinetic field theory and energetic consistency.

• OSTI ID: 21531957
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 11 Vol. 17; ISSN PHPAEN; ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
CLOSED PLASMA DEVICES
FLUCTUATIONS
FLUID MECHANICS
HAMILTONIANS
HYDRODYNAMICS
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
MATHEMATICAL OPERATORS
MECHANICS
PLASMA
PLASMA SIMULATION
QUANTUM OPERATORS
SIMULATION
THERMONUCLEAR DEVICES
TOKAMAK DEVICES
VARIATIONS