Impact of a shear flow on double tearing nonlinear dynamics

Journal Article · Wed Jun 15 04:00:00 EDT 2011 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3592988· OSTI ID:21546946

Voslion, T ^[1]; Agullo, O; Beyer, P; Benkadda, S ^[1]; Yagi, M; Itoh, S-I ^[1]; Garbet, X ^[2]; Itoh, K ^[1]

---

1. France-Japan Magnetic fusion Laboratory, LIA 336, CNRS, Marseille 13397 (France)
2. CEA, IRFM, 13108 Durance (France)

The dynamics of global reconnection in the presence of a poloidal shear flow located in between magnetic islands is investigated. Different linear and nonlinear regimes are identified depending on the resistivity, the equilibrium velocity amplitude, and the distance between the low-order resonant surfaces. It is found that nonlinearly, the shear flow can significantly delay DTM generation and global reconnection. It is shown that this delay is linked to a symmetry breaking imposed by the shear flow and the generation of mean poloidal flows in the resistive layers. It is also found that turbulence can be generated by Kelvin-Helmholtz instability in between the resonance layers and enhance magnetic reconnection processes.

• OSTI ID: 21546946
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 6 Vol. 18; ISSN PHPAEN; ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
FLUID MECHANICS
HELMHOLTZ INSTABILITY
HYDRODYNAMICS
INSTABILITY
MAGNETIC FIELD CONFIGURATIONS
MAGNETIC ISLANDS
MAGNETIC RECONNECTION
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
MECHANICS
NONLINEAR PROBLEMS
PLASMA INSTABILITY
PLASMA MACROINSTABILITIES
SHEAR
SYMMETRY BREAKING
TEARING INSTABILITY
TURBULENCE