Numerical computations of transport coefficients for nonsymmetric plasmas

Conference · Fri Nov 01 00:00:00 EST 1985

OSTI ID:5131234

Hirshman, S P; Shaing, K C; Beasley, Jr, C O; Crume, E C; Van Rij, W I

The linearized drift kinetic equation is solved numerically to obtain the Onsager transport matrix for a three-dimensional toroidal plasma confinement geometry. Local transport coefficients relating the cross-field fluxes to the thermodynamic forces are computed as continuous functions of the collision frequency. In particular, in the low-collision-frequency regime (..nu.. < ..omega../sub b/), the transport resulting from the nonconservation of the longitudinal adiabatic invariant J (due to particle transitions from helically trapped to toroidally trapped) is obtained. The boundary layer in velocity space resulting from these transition particles can be accurately treated using a Legendre polynomial representation for the pitch angle dependence of the distribution function. Magnetic coordinates are used so that finite-beta effects are included. The disparity in the time scales between collisionless particle orbits and collisional dynamics is treated efficiently to obtain steady-state fluxes and viscosity coefficients. This yields significant improvements in the precision and computational effort in comparison with Monte Carlo methods. The effect of a radial electric field in the ..nu.. < ..omega../sub D/ regime is studied. Applications to Advanced Transition Facility (ATF) and heliac configurations are given.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-84OR21400
• OSTI ID: 5131234
• Report Number(s): CONF-851136-8; ON: DE87000374
• Resource Relation: Conference: Meeting of the Plasma Physics Division of the American Physical Society, San Diego, CA, USA, 4 Nov 1985; Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products. Draft
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
PLASMA
TRANSPORT THEORY
ATF TORSATRON
DISTRIBUTION FUNCTIONS
KINETIC EQUATIONS
PLASMA DRIFT
STELLARATORS
THREE-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
CLOSED PLASMA DEVICES
EQUATIONS
FUNCTIONS
THERMONUCLEAR DEVICES
TORSATRON STELLARATOR
700105* - Fusion Energy- Plasma Research- Plasma Kinetics-Theoretical- (-1987)