Effect of fast electrons on the stability of resistive interchange modes in the TJ-II stellarator

Journal Article · Wed Jun 15 00:00:00 EDT 2016 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4954826· OSTI ID:22598937

García, L. ^[1]; Ochando, M. A.; Hidalgo, C.; Milligen, B. Ph. van ^[2]; Carreras, B. A. ^[3]; Carralero, D. ^[4]

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1. Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Avda. de la Universidad 30, 28911 Leganés, Madrid (Spain)
2. CIEMAT - Laboratorio Nacional de Fusión, Avda. Complutense 40, 28040 Madrid (Spain)
3. BACV Solutions, 110 Mohawk Road, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37830 (United States)
4. Max-Planck-Institute for Plasma Physics, Boltzmannstr. 2, Garching (Germany)

In this paper, we report on electromagnetic phenomena in low-β plasmas at the TJ-II stellarator, controlled by external heating. To understand the observations qualitatively, we introduce a simple modification of the standard resistive MHD equations, to include the potential impact of fast electrons on instabilities. The dominant instabilities of the modeling regime are resistive interchange modes, and calculations are performed in a configuration with similar characteristics as the TJ-II stellarator. The main effect of the trapping of fast electrons by magnetic islands induced by MHD instabilities is to increase the magnetic component of the fluctuations, changing the character of the instability to tearing-like and modifying the frequency of the modes. These effects seem to be consistent with some of the experimental observations.

• OSTI ID: 22598937
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 23, Issue 6; Other Information: (c) 2016 Author(s); 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
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
CONFIGURATION
ELECTRONS
EQUATIONS
FLUCTUATIONS
HEATING
INSTABILITY
MAGNETIC ISLANDS
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
MODIFICATIONS
PLASMA
STABILITY
TJ-II HELIAC