Quasilinear theory of the thermonuclear magneto-acoustic cone instability

Journal Article · Sun Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1984 · Phys. Fluids; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.864683· OSTI ID:5115480

Anderson, D; Lisak, M

An analytical investigation is made of the development of the thermonuclear magneto-acoustic cone instability in a tokamak reactor. The excitation mechanism for the instability is the anisotropy in the ..cap alpha..-particle distribution function resulting from either direct orbit losses or ripple losses. Explicit expressions are obtained describing the time evolution of the magneto-acoustic wave energy density as well as the distribution function, the anomalous particle loss, and the density of the ..cap alpha.. particles. The results show that the quasilinear evolution of the instability causes rapid and severe ..cap alpha..-particle losses and saturates at a high level of turbulence for the magneto-acoustic waves. It is also shown that the quasilinear diffusion of the ..cap alpha.. particles caused by the cone instabilities may result in the generation of a significant toroidal current in the plasma.

• Research Organization: Institute for Electromagnetic Field Theory and EURATOM-Fusion Research (EUR-EFN), Chalmers University of Technology, S-412 96 Goeteborg, Sweden
• OSTI ID: 5115480
• Journal Information: Phys. Fluids; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Fluids; (United States) Vol. 27:4; ISSN PFLDA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700101 -- Fusion Energy-- Plasma Research-- Confinement
Heating
& Production
700107* -- Fusion Energy-- Plasma Research-- Instabilities
700108 -- Fusion Energy-- Plasma Research-- Wave Phenomena
ALPHA PARTICLES
ANALYTICAL SOLUTION
CHARGED PARTICLES
CORRELATIONS
DIFFUSION
DISTRIBUTION FUNCTIONS
ENERGY-LEVEL TRANSITIONS
EXCITATION
FUNCTIONS
INSTABILITY
INTERACTIONS
ORBITS
PLASMA
PLASMA INSTABILITY
THERMONUCLEAR REACTORS
TOKAMAK TYPE REACTORS
VELOCITY