Magnetohydrodynamic kink stability of high pressure ({epsilon}{beta}{sub {ital pol}}{gt}1) toroidal plasmas

Journal Article · Sat Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1996 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.871916· OSTI ID:284296

Kleva, R G ^[1]

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1. Institute for Plasma Research, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742 (United States)

High pressure toroidal equilibria with {epsilon}{beta}{sub {ital pol}}{gt}1 are shown to be violently unstable to magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) kink modes. Here, {epsilon} is the inverse aspect ratio of a torus with a square conducting wall and {beta}{sub {ital pol}} is the ratio of the plasma pressure to the poloidal magnetic field pressure. A broad spectrum of toroidal mode numbers is unstable at large {epsilon}{beta}{sub {ital pol}}. These modes grow rapidly, with a very short exponential growth time of the order of the Alfv{acute e}n time. The growth rate of the kink mode is independent of the magnitude of the resistivity of the plasma. {copyright} {ital 1996 American Institute of Physics.}

• OSTI ID: 284296
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 6 Vol. 3; ISSN PHPAEN; ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
ASPECT RATIO
BALLOONING INSTABILITY
HIGH-BETA PLASMA
HOT PLASMA
KINK INSTABILITY
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
MHD EQUILIBRIUM
PLASMA PRESSURE
TOKAMAK DEVICES