Global magnetic fluctuations in S-1 Spheromak plasmas and relaxation toward a minimum-energy state
Globally coherent modes have been observed during formation in the S-1 Spheromak plasma by analysis of magnetic field fluctuations measured from outside the plasma. The modes are of low n number (2 less than or equal to n less than or equal to 5), where n is defined by the functional dependence e/sup in phi/ of the fluctuation on toroidal angle phi. These modes are shown to be related to flux conversion and plasma relaxation toward a minimum-energy state during the spheromak formation. The modes are active while the q profile is rapidly changing, with q on-axis, q/sub 0/, rising to 0.7. A significant finding is the temporal progression through the n = 5, 4, 3, 2; m = 1 mode sequence as q rises through rational fractions m/n. During formation, peak amplitudes of the n = 2, 3, 4 modes relative to the unperturbed field have been observed as high as 20%, while more typical amplitudes are below 5%.
- Research Organization:
- Princeton Univ., NJ (USA). Plasma Physics Lab.
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC02-76CH03073
- OSTI ID:
- 5597022
- Report Number(s):
- PPPL-2214; ON: DE85011365
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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