On the toroidal plasma rotations induced by lower hybrid waves

Journal Article · Fri Feb 15 00:00:00 EST 2013 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4791666· OSTI ID:22113445

Xiaoyin, Guan; Fisch, Nathaniel J. ^[1]; Hong, Qin ^[1]; Jian, Liu ^[2]

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1. Plasma Physics Laboratory, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08543 (United States)
2. Department of Modern Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026 (China)

A theoretical model is developed to explain the plasma rotations induced by lower hybrid waves in Alcator C-Mod. In this model, torodial rotations are driven by the Lorentz force on the bulk-electron flow across flux surfaces, which is a response of the plasma to the resonant-electron flow across flux surfaces induced by the lower hybrid waves. The flow across flux surfaces of the resonant electrons and the bulk electrons are coupled through the radial electric field initiated by the resonant electrons, and the friction between ions and electrons transfers the toroidal momentum to ions from electrons. An improved quasilinear theory with gyrophase dependent distribution function is developed to calculate the perpendicular resonant-electron flow. Toroidal rotations are determined using a set of fluid equations for bulk electrons and ions, which are solved numerically by a finite-difference method. Numerical results agree well with the experimental observations in terms of flow profile and amplitude. The model explains the strong correlation between torodial flow and internal inductance observed experimentally, and predicts both counter-current and co-current flows, depending on the perpendicular wave vectors of the lower hybrid waves.

• OSTI ID: 22113445
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 20, Issue 2; Other Information: (c) 2013 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
ALCATOR DEVICE
AMPLITUDES
CONFINEMENT
CORRELATIONS
COUNTER CURRENT
DISTRIBUTION FUNCTIONS
ELECTRIC FIELDS
ELECTRON TRANSFER
EQUATIONS
FINITE DIFFERENCE METHOD
INDUCTANCE
IONS
LORENTZ FORCE
LOWER HYBRID CURRENT DRIVE
LOWER HYBRID HEATING
MAGNETIC SURFACES
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
PLASMA