State of the MHD stability theory of axisymmetric toroidal equilibria with circular and elongated plasma cross sections

Technical Report · Sat Mar 01 04:00:00 EDT 1975

OSTI ID:4166914

Gruber, O

A survey of the MHD stability of axisymmetric toroidal equilibria with circular and 'vertical', non-circular plasma cross-sections is given. The influence of the toroidal current density distribution, the diamagnetic poloidal currents, the plasma conductivity and the toroidal aspect ratio is discussed. A comparison of non-circular with circular cross-sections shows the same stability behaviour of the internal kink modes. Furthermore, the stability of localized modes is improved if diamagnetic currents (necessary for high-$beta$ values) and D-shaped cross-sections are taken into account. Stabilization of both modes calls for a q-value on the magnetic axis of about 1. To stabilize the external kink modes, both adequate shear (vanishing current density at the plasma surface) as in a circular cross-section and small curvature at the ends of the elongated plasma cross-section are necessary. The stabilizing effect of diamagnetic poloidal currents also exists for the external modes except for the surface current model. (orig.)

• Research Organization: Max-Planck-Institut fuer Plasmaphysik, Garching/Muenchen (F.R. Germany)
• NSA Number: NSA-33-007074
• OSTI ID: 4166914
• Report Number(s): IPP--1/152
• Country of Publication: Germany
• Language: German

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