Magnetohydrodynamic simulation on co- and counter-helicity merging of spheromaks and driven magnetic reconnection

Journal Article · Thu May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1997 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.872305· OSTI ID:544561

Watanabe, T; Sato, T; Hayashi, T ^[1]

---

1. Theory and Computer Simulation Center, National Institute for Fusion Science, Nagoya 464-01 (Japan)

A magnetohydrodynamic relaxation process of spheromak merging is studied by means of an axisymmetric numerical simulation. As a result of counter-helicity merging, a field-reversed configuration is obtained in the final state, while a larger spheromak is formed after co-helicity merging. In the counter-helicity case, a clear pressure profile of which iso-surfaces coincide with flux surfaces is generated by thermal transport of a poloidal flow induced by driven reconnection. It is also found that a sharp pressure gradient formed in the vicinity of a reconnection point causes a bouncing motion of spheromaks. According to the bounce motion, the reconnection rate changes repeatedly. As shown by the Tokyo University Spherical Torus No. 3 (TS-3) experiments [M. Yamada, {ital et al.}, Phys. Rev. Lett. {bold 65}, 721 (1990)], furthermore, strong acceleration of a toroidal flow and reversal of a toroidal field in the counter-helicity merging were observed. {copyright} {ital 1997 American Institute of Physics.}

• OSTI ID: 544561
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 4; ISSN PHPAEN; ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
ACCELERATION
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
MAGNETIC CONFINEMENT
MAGNETIC FIELD CONFIGURATIONS
MAGNETIC RECONNECTION
MHD EQUILIBRIUM
PLASMA PRESSURE
PLASMA SIMULATION
RELAXATION
THERMAL CONDUCTION
TOKAMAK DEVICES