Nonlinear evolution of the toroidal Alfven instability using a gyrofluid model
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831-8071 (United States)
Discrete shear Alfven modes such as the TAE (toroidal Alfven eigenmode) are susceptible to destabilization by energetic alpha populations and neutral beams; this can lead to enhanced fast ion losses and degraded heating efficiencies. A gyrofluid model with Landau closure has been developed for understanding both the linear and nonlinear phases of these instabilities. The linear wave--particle resonances necessary to excite Alfven instabilities are included in a coupled set of fluid equations. This model is used to analyze several nonlinear saturation mechanisms that arise from mode coupling effects. The effects of shear flow velocity generation (through the Reynolds stress) and localized current generation (leading to modifications in the [ital q] profile) are specifically examined.
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-84OR21400
- OSTI ID:
- 5006641
- Journal Information:
- Physics of Plasmas; (United States), Vol. 1:5; ISSN 1070-664X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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TOKAMAK DEVICES
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ALPHA PARTICLES
LANDAU DAMPING
LARMOR RADIUS
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
PLASMA INSTABILITY
RESONANCE
TOROIDAL CONFIGURATION
ANNULAR SPACE
CHARGED PARTICLES
CLOSED CONFIGURATIONS
CLOSED PLASMA DEVICES
CONFIGURATION
DAMPING
FLUID MECHANICS
HYDRODYNAMICS
HYDROMAGNETIC WAVES
INSTABILITY
MAGNETIC FIELD CONFIGURATIONS
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SPACE
THERMONUCLEAR DEVICES
700340* - Plasma Waves
Oscillations
& Instabilities- (1992-)