Kinetic theory of tearing instability

Journal Article · Mon Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1975 · Phys. Fluids, v. 18, no. 12, pp. 1778-1786

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.861097· OSTI ID:4093456

Hazeltine, R D; Dobrott, D; Wang, T S

The guiding-center kinetic equation with Fokker-Planck collision term is used to study, in cylindrical geometry, a class of dissipative instabilities of which the classical tearing mode is an archetype. Variational solution of the kinetic equation obviates the use of an approximate Ohm's law or adiabatic assumption, as used in previous studies, and it provides a dispersive relation which is uniformly valid for any ratio of wave frequency to collision frequency. One result of using the rigorous collision operator is the prediction of a new instability. This instability, driven by the electron temperature gradient, is predicted to occur under the long mean-free path conditions of present tokamak experiments, and has significant features in common with the kink-like oscillations observed in such experiments. (AIP)

• Research Organization: General Atomic Company, San Diego, California 92138
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• NSA Number: NSA-33-014502
• OSTI ID: 4093456
• Journal Information: Phys. Fluids, v. 18, no. 12, pp. 1778-1786, Journal Name: Phys. Fluids, v. 18, no. 12, pp. 1778-1786; ISSN PFLDA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

*PLASMA INSTABILITY-- FOKKER-PLANCK EQUATION
700107* --Fusion Energy--Plasma Research--Plasma Instabilities
COLLISIONS
DISPERSION RELATIONS
GUIDING-CENTER APPROXIMATION
KINETIC EQUATIONS
N70700* --Physics--Controlled Thermonuclear Research-- Stability